Jail custody was extended again for Trinamool Congress councillor Rabindranath Bhattacharya by the Barrackpore Sub-divisional Court on Monday in connection with a murder case in Barrackpore.
Bhattacharya, who is also the general secretary of the Barrackpore Bar Association, was arrested for his alleged role in the death of 81-year-old Tulsicharan Adhikari. The incident took place on February 8 at Manirampur and was reportedly linked to a dispute over illegal construction.
He was not physically present in court during the hearing. Instead, he appeared virtually from Dum Dum Correctional Home.
Plea for physical production and treatment
During the proceedings, Barrackpore Bar Association president Sushanta Roy and others appealed before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Monika Chattopadhyay. They requested that Rabindranath Bhattacharya be produced physically in court and be allowed necessary medical treatment at a medical college.
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Appearing virtually with folded hands, Bhattacharya told the court that his health condition was poor. He sought permission to be admitted to RG Kar Hospital for treatment.
The judge responded that the actions of his juniors, when he was earlier scheduled to be produced physically, were not acceptable. Later in the evening, the court directed that Rabindranath must appear in person on March 9. His jail custody continues.
Bar Council polls on March 9 and 10
The development comes ahead of the State Bar Council elections scheduled for March 9 and 10. Rabindranath is contesting as candidate number 52.
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Although the Trinamool Congress has suspended him over the Barrackpore incident and excluded his name from the party panel, he remains in the fray. He is contesting the election as an independent candidate from judicial custody.
The case proceedings and the upcoming elections are now unfolding simultaneously.
