Bail Application of Co-Accused Debraj Chakraborty Rejected Amid Allegations of Land Grabbing and Extortion
In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court, presided over by Justice Jay Sengupta, has granted anticipatory bail to Aditi Munshi, a former MLA, amidst serious allegations of acquiring properties from undisclosed income and involvement in organized crime. The case has drawn considerable attention due to its political undertones and the gravity of the charges, which include land grabbing and extortion.
The court's decision, delivered on June 24, 2026, comes in response to two anticipatory bail applications filed by Aditi Munshi and her husband, Debraj Chakraborty, a current Councilor of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. The High Court, while granting bail to Munshi, took into account her status as a mother of a four-month-old infant, emphasizing the need to balance the requirements of justice with humanitarian considerations.
The allegations against Munshi and Chakraborty involve the acquisition of properties worth over 100 crore rupees, far exceeding their disclosed income. The prosecution argued that the properties were acquired through means involving benami transactions, undervaluation, and coercion, aimed at cleaning their affidavit of assets before the elections. The state counsel presented a case diary that included statements from victims of land grabbing, detailing instances where properties were forcibly acquired at significantly lower values than their market worth.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the court recognized the lack of substantial allegations against Munshi herself, noting her role as a mother and the absence of direct involvement in the alleged crimes. However, the court imposed stringent conditions for her bail, including the surrender of her passport, a requirement to stay outside the jurisdictional area until the investigation is complete, and a prohibition against intimidating witnesses.
On the other hand, the court denied the bail application of Debraj Chakraborty, citing the need for custodial interrogation to facilitate an effective investigation and the potential risk of witness intimidation.
The case was initially triggered by a complaint filed by the winning candidate of the Rajarhat-Gopalpur Constituency, just before the assembly elections. The complaint accused the couple of disposing of properties to avoid disclosure of their actual assets.
The decision has stirred political discourse, with Munshi's legal team arguing that the charges are politically motivated, aimed at targeting her post-election defeat. The legal proceedings continue to unravel, with further investigations anticipated under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Bottom Line:
Anticipatory bail granted to petitioner (Aditi Munshi) considering her status as a mother of a four-month-old infant, subject to specific conditions and compliance with Section 438(2) of CrPC/Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.
Statutory provision(s):
- Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 438
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 482
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Aditi Munshi v. State of West Bengal, (Calcutta) : Law Finder Doc id # 2929218
