Court Extends Judicial Custody Of TMC Leader Anubrata Mondal In Cattle Smuggling Case

A special CBI court in Asansol today extended the judicial remand of senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, arrested by the central agency in connection with its probe in a cattle smuggling case, by another 14 days.

The court rejected a bail petition of Mondal, the Birbhum district president of the ruling party of West Bengal. The special CBI court ordered that Mondal be sent to judicial custody for 14 more days on a prayer by the investigating agency.

Claiming that Mondal is unwell, his lawyers prayed for his bail on any condition imposed by the court. The CBI counsel opposed the bail prayer, submitting that he is an influential person and may try to influence witnesses in the case if released from custody.

Mondal was arrested by the CBI on August 11 in connection with its probe into the alleged cattle smuggling to Bangladesh from West Bengal.

The TMC leader has been in CBI custody till August 24 since his arrest from his Bolpur residence in Birbhum district after he did not appear before the agency's officers at its Nizam Palace office in Kolkata on August 10 for questioning in connection with the case.

Mondal had not appeared before the CBI officers on nine out of 10 occasions that he was asked to come for questioning.

In March this year, the Calcutta High Court had dismissed Anubrata Mondal's appeal against a CBI notice asking him to appear before the agency in connection with a cattle smuggling case. 

Last month, the issue relating to the threat to Special CBI Judge Rajesh Chakraborty in Asansol who has been hearing the case against Anubrata Mondal was mentioned before the Bench led by the then CJI NV Ramana in Supreme Court.

With PTI inputs