Haldia encroachment: HC halts police probe against Tamalika

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday stayed the police investigation into the role of Tamalika Panda Seth,the chairman of Haldia Municipality,in an alleged encroachment of a water body.

Passing an interim order,Justice Dipankar Dutta stopped the police from proceeding with its investigation until the disposal of the case. The court also directed the state government to file an affidavit within eight weeks.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by Haldia Development Authority (HDA),police had registered an FIR against Tamalika,wife of former CPM MP Lakshman Seth,in July this year alleging that under her chairmanship,Haldia Municipality had encroached a water body of about 10 acres owned by the HDA,which was later leased out to a private party for a period of 31 years.

Tamalika had challenged the FIR in the High Court alleging that police had filed it with a political motive since the HDA was under rival Trinamool Congress leadership.

Her counsel had told the court that the Haldia Municipality did not encroach the water body but it was handed over to it by the HDA in 1994 for a period of ten years. According to her,the HDA did not take the possession of the water body after the termination of ten years and hence no illegality was committed by Haldia Municipality.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram