Bengal Cong chief booked in murder case

With an FIR lodged against Adhir Chowdhury in a murder case, Minister of State for Railways and president of the West Bengal unit of the Congress, party leaders apprehend he might not be able to file nomination for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

He is one of the prime accused in the murder of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker in Murshidabad. According to sources in Chowdhury's legal team, the incumbent minister has cases lodged against him under four sections of the Indian Penal Code, three of which are non-bailable, while one is bailable.  Sources said given the strained relationship between the Congress and the TMC, Chowdhury’s lawyers doubt that the state administration would go lenient on him.

“Sometimes, the administration would present a charge sheet in such a way that the case can go in favour of the accused. However, the TMC will not allow that in case of Chowdhury,” said a lawyer.

If Chowdhury does not get bail in the case, the party would field either his wife Asha or close associate Manoj Chakraborty in his place, as the Congress candidate from the Berhampore constituency, which goes to polls on April 24.

The FIR against Chowdhury and 27 others was lodged on Friday by the TMC in connection with the murder of party supporter Badal Sheikh in Murshidabad on Thursday.

While the TMC blamed miscreants “under the shelter of the Congress” for the attack, Congress leaders refuted the allegation, calling it a political conspiracy to harass the minister, pointing out that Chowdhury was campaigning away from the district.