Kolkata HC relaxes bail conditions for key accused in coal smuggling case

The Calcutta High Court has granted some relief to Bikash Mishra, one of the main accused in the coal smuggling case, by easing his bail conditions. Mishra had been granted bail in 2021 in connection with his involvement in the coal smuggling racket. However, at the time of his release, the court imposed strict conditions, including a requirement to report to the CBI office every week and a ban on traveling outside Kolkata. On Tuesday, the Division Bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Shubhendu Samanta relaxed these conditions.

The court’s ruling on Tuesday specified that Mishra would no longer need to appear at the CBI office on a weekly basis. Instead, he is now required to report to the CBI office only once a month. Additionally, the restriction on his movement outside Kolkata has been relaxed, with the court permitting him to travel within West Bengal. However, the court has made it clear that Mishra is still prohibited from leaving the state. The bench also reiterated that he must not travel outside West Bengal for any reason other than official duties within the state.

Bikash Mishra is the brother of Binay Mishra, another key accused in the coal smuggling and cattle trafficking cases. Bikash Mishra was arrested by the CBI in 2021 and charged in connection with the illegal extraction and transportation of coal. After his arrest, he was granted bail by the court under several conditions, including the travel restrictions and the requirement to report regularly to the CBI. Mishra’s legal team had challenged these conditions, arguing that they were excessively stringent. The High Court’s decision to ease some of these conditions provides Mishra with some flexibility while the investigation continues.

In addition to the coal smuggling case, Bikash Mishra is also facing charges in a separate case involving the molestation of a minor. Recently, he was arrested by the Kalighat Police in this case and is currently in police custody. The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and Mishra remains under scrutiny for both the coal smuggling and molestation allegations.