The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung
and the party's former General Secretary Roshan Giri a four-day window
to approach the Calcutta High Court for protection and permission to
campaign for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the
Darjeeling Parliamentary seat. Till the matter is heard by the HC, the
apex court directed no coercive action to be taken against the duo.
Both Gurung and Giri absconded from Darjeeling after the West Bengal
police sought their arrest in a murder case and accused them of
engineering bomb blasts and violence in Darjeeling and Kalimpong in 2017
as part of their agenda to seek separate statehood for Gorkhaland. In
their absence, the GJM was taken over by Gurung's former aide Binay
Tamang who has sided with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government
in the state.
With the elections in Darjeeling slated on April 18, Gurung
requested the apex court for protection to enter the state for
campaigning during the elections. He feared arrest in the pending cases
against him.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Gurung and Giri and
pointed out that the state government was out to ensure that the two
persons do not enter the state before elections are over by framing
cases against them. The state government, represented by senior advocate
Kapil Sibal brought a CD containing telephonic conversation of Gurung
to emphasize that he faces serious criminal charges and is an absconding
accused who must be arrested.
The bench of Justices Arun Mishra, Mohan M Shantanagouder and Navin
Sinha directed the petitioners to approach the Calcutta HC seeking the
same relief in the next four days. This would mean that the duo can
enter the state and even campaign. The Court ordered the police not to
arrest them till the HC takes up the matter.
LEGAL MATTER
- With the elections in Darjeeling slated on April 18, Bimal Gurung requested the apex court for protection.
- He wants permission to campaign as he fears arrest in the pending cases against him.
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