On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal in the cattle smuggling case. Mondal, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and imprisoned for over two years, was released as the court recognized that the investigation would require additional time. He had been incarcerated at Tihar Jail since March 21, 2023.
The Supreme Court mandated that Anubrata Mondal cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and surrender his passport. However, he will remain in custody as he was also apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2022, in connection with the same case.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Anubrata Mondal, argued that his client had been imprisoned for two years since his arrest on August 11, 2022, while all other accused individuals were out on bail. Rohatgi pointed out the lack of access to the English version of the charge sheet, which comprises over one lakh pages, with more than 10,000 pages in Bengali. The bench suggested that Rohatgi handle the translation himself, highlighting that the case involves 309 witnesses and is unlikely to conclude swiftly.
The Calcutta High Court had denied Anubrata Mondal’s bail plea in January last year, citing the ongoing investigations into his alleged illegal wealth accumulation. The court maintained that granting bail could negatively impact witness morale and the collection of evidence. TMC’s Anubrata Mondal had sought bail, arguing at the time that he had been in custody for an extended period.
Mondal, who had served as the President of Birbhum District Trinamool Congress, faced opposition to his bail plea from the CBI. The agency accused him of utilizing his political influence to assist cattle smuggler Enamul Haque. The CBI alleged that Mondal facilitated the illegal transportation of cattle through Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal to Bangladesh, securing illicit gains in the process.
CBI reports indicate that, in addition to ₹ 48.06 crore in assets, they have discovered property worth ₹ 29.5 crore linked to cattle smuggling since December. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified assets totaling ₹ 77.56 crore obtained through proceeds from cattle smuggling.
