Kolkata, 22 May (H.S.): Bangla Pokkho founder Garga Chatterjee was granted conditional bail by a Kolkata magistrate court on Friday, 10 days after his arrest in connection with alleged misinformation related to EVMs during the election period.
With bail granted in all cases registered against him, there are now no legal hurdles to his release from jail.
Chatterjee was arrested on May 12 after allegations surfaced that he had spread misleading and provocative content on social media regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the elections. The complaint had been filed by the District Election Officer (DEO) of North Kolkata with the cyber crime department.
The police had earlier issued two notices summoning Chatterjee for questioning at Lalbazar, but he allegedly failed to appear, following which he was arrested. After being produced before court the next day, his initial bail plea was rejected and he remained in judicial custody.
On Friday, Chatterjee was produced virtually before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Kolkata, which granted him bail on a bond of Rs 2,000 with conditions.
According to court sources, he has been directed to meet the investigating officer once every week and cooperate fully with the ongoing probe.
Chatterjee had earlier secured bail in another case registered at Maidan police station. Following Friday’s order in the cyber police case, his release from custody is now expected shortly.
The development sparked celebrations among members and supporters of Bangla Pokkho.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
