Cattle smuggling case: Calcutta High Court rejects Anubrata Mondal’s bail plea

A division bench comprising Justices Ajay Kumar Gupta and Joymalya Bagchi rejected the bail plea on the ground that “the court is not inclined to grant the prayer at this stage”.

Mondal’s counsel Kapil Sibal argued in the court that co-accused Enamul Haque and Satish Kumar were out on bail and that “the CBI had not arrested other accused in the case and illegally arrested the petitioner owing to his political affiliations”.

“Paramount influence of the petitioner as a political heavyweight and materials collected showing misuse of such power to influence witnesses and derail the investigation places him in a unique position in comparison to others who are on bail. Enlargement of the petitioner on bail would have an ominous impact not only on the witnesses but on the smooth administration of criminal justice in the case,” the court ordered.