Court grants bail to man branded 'Maoist' by Mamata

, Aug 24: A district court in

granted bail to Shiladitya Chowdhury, a marginal farmer, who was arrested earlier this month for questioning Chief Minister

about her government's policies towards farmers' uplift.

The court in West Midnapore district granted bail to Chowdhury on a personal bond of Rs 1,000, said his counsel Thirthankar Dhapat, adding that the court deemed it fit to grant a bail to Chowdhury even though he was charged with several non-bailable offence.

Chowdhury was arrested on Aug 11 on charges of disrupting public rally, intruding into a high-security zone and assaulting policemen. Chowdhury had told the Chief Minister while she was addressing a rally in the Maoist-hit Belpahari area on Aug 8 that farmers were suffering under poverty and empty promises did not serve any purpose. A stunned Banerjee immediately termed the man as a 'Maoist' and he was subsequently detained and interrogated by the police. Chowdhury was let off that day but was arrested a few days later.

The state human rights commission ordered a probe into the case.

OneIndia News