Panel clears TMC men of charges

The State Level Review Committee set up by the Mamata Banerjee government to look into political arrests made in Nandigram

The State Level Review Committee set up by the Mamata Banerjee government to look into political arrests made in Nandigram and Singur by the previous Left Front government has recommended withdrawal of cases against over 2,200 accused in its recent report. Among the cases that the panel headed by Justice Moloy Sengupta wants dropped involve assault and property disputes.

Most of the 2,200 given the clean chit are Trinamool Congress leaders and supporters. As part of another parallel process,Law Minister Moloy Ghatak has been working with government public prosecutors and additional public prosecutors to fast-track and withdraw cases of a more serious nature such as murder and rape against against a large number of TMC supporters.

The cases in Nandigram and Singur being investigated by the CBI and CID did not come under the purview of the Sengupta committee. Among the cases it has recommended withdrawn,as per its latest report accessed by The Indian Express,are 454 criminal cases in Nandigram,130 in Singur; about 52 murder cases pending scrutiny by prosecution; 13 cases of molestation and a number of rape cases; at least 63 criminal cases against villagers in Singur; and 15 criminal cases lodged by the Tatas and other auto companies.

Ghatak confirmed to The Indian Express that he had cleared over 100 cases of a serious nature in which partymen and leaders were falsely implicated. The special focus of the government is Nandigram and Singur,but cases from other parts of the state have also been withdrawn, he said.

Justice Sengupta said he was unaware of Ghatak dealing with the same subject of release of political prisoners. However,he added that there was no legal difficulty in withdrawal of serious cases if the government wanted the same. Asked if the committee had any mandate from the government,he said: The TMC election manifesto had promised to release all political prisoners. That was one of the guidelines for the committee.

While the panel also recommended withdrawal of cases against some CPM men,sources admitted that the government could choose not to implement the same as the panels suggestions were not binding.

Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra questioned the recommendations of the panel. The Left Front had declared general amnesty irrespective of political colour. However,we did not release murder and rape case accused.