Kolkata, Aug 31 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court has directed the Kolkata police to set free by 2 pm on Saturday the arrested convener of the August 27 student protest demanding the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her government’s handling of the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor in a premier medical college here.
Single bench judge Justice Amrita Sinha while directing the police to release Sayan Lahiri, who was arrested on August 27 after emerging from a live debate at a private TV channel studio on the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, observed that the convener appeared to be an insignificant character who does not hold any position of power or influence in the cry for justice in the aftermath of the alleged crime.
The judge in her order on late Friday said that to uphold and restore the faith of the public in the judiciary the students’ convenor of the West Bengal Chhatra Samaj has to be freed by Kolkata Police by 2 PM on Saturday.
Lahiri was among three conveners of the August 27 march to the state secretariat Nabanna, which police claimed turned violent and breached law and order.
Hearing a petition filed by Lahiri’s mother Anjali Lahiri, who sought judicial intervention to quash the case against her son and grant of bail, the court ordered his release from custody .
Justice Sinha directed the police to refrain from taking any coercive action against Lahiri in relation to the case in which he has been arrested or any other case which has been or may be registered against him, without the leave of the court.
He is now in 14 days of police custody, after being arrested under various sections, including non-bailable ones, court sources said.
The Calcutta High Court’s interim order also directed the state to file an affidavit in opposition to the averments made by the petitioner by September 20 and reply, if any, by the petitioner within October 4.
