A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Kolkata has granted interim bail to Trinamool Congress councillor Shakir Ali, husband of former Trinamool MP Aparupa Poddar. Ali was arrested on June 30 in connection with his alleged involvement in the 2023 Ram Navami violence case. The bail was granted on medical grounds as Ali is suspected to be suffering from cancer and undergoing treatment.
Ali’s counsel had initially moved a bail petition citing medical reasons, which was rejected. However, after an “in-camera” hearing, the special NIA court approved conditional bail for Ali on Friday. As part of the conditions, Ali must appear at the NIA office every 15 days for investigation purposes and cannot leave the state without court permission.
The 2023 Ram Navami violence case involved unrest in Rishra, Hooghly district, marked by bomb attacks, vandalism, and arson during a procession. The situation led to a virtual curfew being imposed to restore law and order. The NIA arrested Shakir Ali in connection with the case earlier this week while investigating the incident.
