M A I N   N E W S

Cong MP granted bail, re-arrested
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, September 7
The Congress MP, Adhir Chowdhury, was re-arrested today soon after he was granted bail on the twin-murder case at the Behrampore court today.

He was arrested in a separate case in the killing of a CPI(M) anchal pradhan at Ketugram, Govardhan Ghosh, in 2003.

The MP was refused bail in this case. He would be produced before the Katwa SDM tomorrow for further hearing in the murder case and a fresh appeal would be made for his release. Soon after he was re-arrested, a large number of his supporters came out in the streets at and protested. They alleged that Chowdhury was arrested on false charges at the instance of the CPI(M).

Angry Congress workers demonstrated inside the court premises and staged a dharna in front of the SDO's office and the local police station. They obstructed trains services and vehicular traffic.

Chowdhury had flown down to Behrampore from Delhi last night for surrendering before the judicial magistrate's court following the warrant of arrest issued against him a few days ago.

The Congress working president, Pradip Bhattacharyya, and senior leader Somen Mitra criticised Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, for misusing the police machinery and harassing Congress workers and supporters.

Extortion case against another

Patna, September 7
In what appears to be a major embarrassment for the Nitish Kumar government, a case has been lodged against the BJP MLA Prem Ranjan Patel for allegedly trying to extort money from a stone crushing company in Lakhisarai district of Bihar. BJP is a coalition partner of JD (U) in the ruling NDA here.

IDIO Construction Limited officials lodged the complaint with the police alleging that the MLA had demanded money from the company and threatened to stop work if he was not paid. Patel, however, denied the charge as baseless. — PTI