[Narada sting case] Calcutta High Court hears case concerning the arrest of four TMC leaders - Day 2 LIVE UPDATES

The Calcutta High Court is hearing the case concerning the arrest of Trinamool Congress party leaders, Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee in the Narada Sting case.The interim bail granted by a lower to the four by a subordinate court on Monday was stayed by the High Court in an evening hearing, the order being pronounced after 10 pm the same day.The stay was granted after the CBI sought a transfer of the case from the Court dealing with the same, while also citing a threat to the probe agency on the ground that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and others were sitting in dharna outside the agency's office..The matter was heard by the High Court Bench of acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee on Wednesday. Whereas the hearing was slated to continue on Thursday, the Bench did not assemble. The hearing in the matter will continue today. .To read a live account of Wednesday's hearing, click here..Live updates of the hearing today feature here. .The matter is being heard by a Bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee assembles. Hearing commences..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asks Court to stay order for a week. We have in principle differences with Navlakha judgment but I can't argue that here. Please stay this order so we can appeal: Mehta says..Dr. AM Singhvi says house arrest is also arrest. Says the four should be released on bail. There is no possibility of flight risk, they are cooperating with the probe: Dr. Singhvi.Justice Arijit Banerjee tells Dr. Singhvi one of the judges on the Bench thought it fit to grant interim bail while other did not. So we referred to larger Bench on that while thinking that meanwhile they can be in house arrest since pandemic is there, Banerjee J says..Senior Adv Sidharth Luthra says one Hakim is part of Covid management. Another accused is old. Please consider their case: Luthra. Matter will now be taken up at 11.50. Dr. Singhvi seeks time to confer with clients. .Hearing resumes. Dr. Singhvi says we are clearly and strongly seeking bail. .Singhvi says since Court has made it clear of house arrest, Your Lordships should constitute the larger Bench today itself..We will hear it without delay, says Court..Dr Singhvi also makes request on behalf of Firhad Hakim since he is part of Covid management. Says certain relaxations be allowed for him to deal with Covid files etc..Dr. Singhvi also opposes SG Tushar Mehta's request to keep in abeyance the order so that CBI can file appeal..Liberty of accused cannot be affected because they want to file SLP; Dr. Singhvi Luthra says serious abuse of process by CBI. If tested, this entre tower it has created will fall down..Justice Arijit Banerjee reiterates that since there was difference between the two judges on grant of interim bail, house arrest was order as interim arrangement till larger Bench decides it..Singhvi says he will leave it to the Court and in the meanwhile two of them be allowed relaxations. Special request made on behalf of Hakim to deal with files on Covid management..Solicitor General responds to Luthra's statement that tower by CBI case will fall down. We can test it but it should be in a neutral atmosphere conducive. Not where ministers are going and obstructing production of accused before Court: Mehta..Mehta cites instances of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy case and Amarmani Tripathi to counter the argument regarding curtailing liberty..Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandhopadhyay for accused says it is unprecedented that Calcutta High Court sat late at night to hear the matter. Since Bench sat on Solicitor General request, am I not entitled to now request that larger Bench be constituted today itself and heard..Bandhopadhyay requests that larger Bench should sit on Saturday and Sunday and hear out the matter. SG Mehta makes a submission. "Only because you are SG, you can't interrupt:" Bandhopadhyay..Bandhopadhyay requests Court to allow Hakim to deal with files sitting in his house. Also ensure he gets medical facilities..Constitute Bench and hear matter from 2 pm today: Bandhopadhyay.Bench says it will consider SG Mehta's request for stay of today's order..Bench and lawyers including Bandhopadhyay and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta indulging in conversations in lighter vein. I am inviting all of you as personal guests after COVID is over, says Bandhopadhyay..Court says Firhad Hakim can continue discharging his official duties via vide conference and court will not stop it.On prayer to constitute Bench at the earliest, the Bench said it is a decision to be taken on administrative side and court won't pass any order.

[Narada sting case] Calcutta High Court hears case concerning the arrest of four TMC leaders - Day 2 LIVE UPDATES

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