HC nixes Arabul’s contempt plea over security cover
Times of India | 12 July 2025
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday dismissed a contempt application moved by former Trinamool MLA Arabul Islam against the state. Islam had claimed in his May, 2024 plea that the state had not given him proper security cover despite a court order. Responding to the court directive to assess threat to Islam, police submitted a report in the court on Friday.
Islam's counsel Phiroze Edulji pleaded with the court to enhance his security in view of the murder of Bhangar Trinamool neta Razzak Khan on Thursday.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh noted that the administration was already providing security to Arabul. "You are asking for too much. You are asking for security to enter the gram panchayat area when you are a murder accused. Is it not bigger than your shoes? And there is no scope for enlarging security in a contempt application," Justice Ghosh observed.
Islam was arrested on Feb 9, 2024, accused of murder and criminal intimidation in a case initiated against him at Bijoyganj Bazar Police Station following the death of ISF neta Mohiuddin Molla. Edulji pleaded that security to Islam was enough from 2006 to 2023 but he was slapped with a series of charges after 2023 and security cover was reduced.
The judge granted leave to the petitioner to move court in the event of any fresh development.