Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was taken into custody at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 18 September 2026, while canvassing in the Reyapara area of Nandigram.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the breakaway Democratic Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, who said Pradhan faces three pending murder cases from the 2007 land‑acquisition agitation. A local resident in Reyapara watched the police convoy and described the scene as "shocking".
Rahul Gandhi blasted the move as "political revenge" and accused the BJP of trying to wipe out the contest, while Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed the BJP is panicking as anti‑BJP forces unite.
Police sources confirm Pradhan is accused in four cases, including IPC Sections 147, 148, 149, 302 and 506, with warrants pending under the new Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. The complaint cites four distinct cases, all dating back to 2007, that have been registered under the IPC.
The case will now be presented before the Nandigram district court, where a bail hearing is expected to determine Pradhan’s future in the campaign.