Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected the West Bengal government’s petition challenging the bail granted to student leader Sayan Lahiri, who was involved in the August 27 protest march to the state secretariat, Nabanna. The protest was organized in response to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Medical College and Hospital.
Sayan Lahiri, a leader of the Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, played a key role in organizing the protest, which led to violent clashes between the demonstrators and the police near Nabanna. The situation escalated as police used teargas, water cannons, and batons to disperse the crowd. While organizers claimed that multiple student groups participated in the march, the ruling Trinamool Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the protest to incite unrest.
Lahiri was arrested on the evening of the protest, accused of instigating the violence that resulted in damage to public property. His mother, Anjali Lahiri, swiftly approached the Calcutta High Court, which granted him bail on Friday, leading to his release the following day. Unhappy with the decision, the Bengal government escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra questioned the state’s decision to target Lahiri specifically. “Why out of hundreds, you picked up only this man?” the bench asked. When the state’s counsel argued that 41 police officers were injured in the clash, the bench responded, “You say 41 policemen were injured, you mean to say this particular person injured 41 cops? Sorry, no merits, dismissed.”
The court’s decision to dismiss the petition comes amid widespread protests in Bengal over the brutal rape and murder of the doctor. The incident has sparked outrage across the state, with people from various backgrounds demanding justice. The ruling Trinamool Congress has repeatedly accused the BJP and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] of exploiting the tragedy to create disorder.
The Supreme Court had previously warned the Bengal government against using excessive force on peaceful protesters. During a subsequent hearing, Bengal’s counsel, Kapil Sibal, sought clarification on whether the state could take action if protests turned violent. The court affirmed that the state could lawfully maintain order but emphasized the importance of not disrupting peaceful demonstrations.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s decision, BJP Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari celebrated the ruling as a victory for the youth. “The state’s attempt to suppress the voice of youth has been massively foiled,” he said in a post on social media platform X. “I heartily welcome such an order of dismissal by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, which reaffirms the victory of youth in our democracy. My salute and glory to the power of youth.”
