How #Kolkata police created hurdles to appoint defence lawyers in Tridhara Sammilani Puja Pandal slogan shouting case

How Kolkata police created hurdles to appoint defence lawyers in Tridhara Sammilani Puja Pandal slogan shouting case

In the interim bail order honourable justice Sampa Sarkar Calcutta High court has disclosed the modus operandi of Kolkata Police and how it prevented the accused students who were picked up from Tridhara Sammilani Puja pandal at Deshapriya Park in South Kolkata on 9th October to sign the Vakalatnama to appoint their pleaders to file writ petition in Calcutta High court.

It was submitted by the learned advocate on record for the petitioners that, initially the writ petition was prepared in the names of the accused persons, but the Vakalatnama could not be obtained from Lalbazar Central Lockup with their signatures. The police authorities allegedly informed the learned Advocates that as no intimation in this regard was received from the Rabindra Sarobar police station, i.e., the jurisdictional police station. Thus, the vakalatnama could not be signed.

Interestingly, One Bittu Kumar Jha lodged a complaint before the Officer-in-Charge, Rabindra Sarobar Police Station on October 9, 2024. Rabindra Sarobar Police Station Case No. 130 of 2024 dated 09/10/2024 was registered under Sections 189 (2) /195 / 353 (2)/353(3)/126(2)/61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 read with Section 9 of the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972.

189 - Unlawful assembly

195 - Assaulting or obstructing public servants when suppressing riots

126 - Wrongful restraint

61 - Criminal conspiracy

353(3) - False news circulation (public mischief)

It may be noted that Section 353 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is non-bailable as per law.

Another interesting fact that the president of Tridhara Sammilani Puja is Debasish Kumar who is serving as Member of Legislative Assembly, Rashbehari Constituency. He is also one of the Members Mayor in Council, KMC and the district president of Kolkata South of All India Trinamool Congress.