In a notable decision, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma has granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal in the cattle smuggling case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Court noted that the trial is unlikely to commence soon. Despite this bail, Mondal will remain in jail due to his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the matter.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Mondal, argued that they have not yet received the English translations of crucial documents, including the charge sheet. Rohatgi highlighted that the documents, originally in Bengali, are extensive, running into thousands of pages. This argument had been raised previously, underscoring the lack of translated materials.
Opposing the bail, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju argued that Mondal could potentially influence the trial. In response, Rohatgi emphasised that Mondal has been in jail since August 2022, experiencing prolonged incarceration, and argued that bail should be granted given the unlikelihood of the trial starting soon.
Rohatgi also pointed out that the primary suspect in the case has already been granted bail by the Court. He noted that despite notices issued last year to the CBI for a status update on the investigation, the trial’s progress remains uncertain.
The Supreme Court has imposed several bail conditions on Mondal, including the surrender of his passport and a directive to cooperate fully with the trial proceedings.
Background:
Anubrata Mondal, a prominent leader of West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress and the Birbhum district president, is accused of involvement in a multi-crore cattle smuggling ring, which allegedly facilitated cattle smuggling to Bangladesh through Birbhum. The investigation into Mondal’s role in the smuggling ring is being conducted by both the CBI and the ED.
Mondal was arrested by the CBI in August 2022 and subsequently by the ED in November 2022. In January, the Calcutta High Court denied him bail in the CBI case. Mondal was later transferred to Tihar Jail in Delhi from a local correctional home in Asansol, where he is currently lodged.
