The Calcutta High Court on Friday granted bail to Sayan Lahiri, leader of the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, in connection with his alleged involvement in organizing a rally at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on August 27. The protest was held to demand justice following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, an unregistered student group, was one of the two organizations that called for the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest. Sayan Lahiri was arrested on the evening of August 27 for his alleged active role in leading the rally, which, according to police, escalated into violence, resulting in the destruction of public and private property and attacks on police officers.
Justice Amrita Sinha of the Calcutta High Court, while granting bail, observed that Sayan Lahiri appears to be an insignificant figure in the broader context of the protests following the RG Kar incident. The court emphasized that to uphold and restore public faith in the judiciary, Sayan Lahiri should be released on bail.
The court acted on a petition filed by Anjali Lahiri, the mother of Sayan Lahiri, seeking the cancellation of proceedings against her son and his release on bail. The court ordered his release from custody by 2 pm on Saturday.
Justice Amrita Sinha further restrained the police from taking any coercive action against Sayan Lahiri in connection with this case or any other case without the court’s permission. The state was directed to file an affidavit in opposition to the petitioner’s claims by September 20, with the petitioner required to reply by October 4.
In her order, Justice Amrita Sinha noted that Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj does not have a legal existence and is a spontaneous collective formed by students, supported by the public, in response to the RG Kar incident. She acknowledged that the protests have resonated across society and the nation.
The court also observed that the protests emerged as a social outcry against the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College, and suggested that the authorities should have handled the situation with greater sensitivity rather than targeting protesters to suppress their agitation.
Justice Amrita Sinha referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling on August 22, which stated that peaceful protests should not be disturbed or disrupted, while also cautioning against the indiscriminate use of regulatory powers to instil fear among protesters through arrests.
The court acknowledged the claim made by Anjali Lahiri that multiple FIRs had been lodged against her son in various police stations in Kolkata, asserting that he was innocent and falsely implicated in criminal cases. However, state Advocate General Kishore Dutta argued that Sayan Lahiri had delivered inflammatory speeches that incited protesters, leading to a breakdown of law and order on August 27.
Despite the state’s opposition, the court concluded that Sayan Lahiri should be granted bail, underlining the importance of maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
