Following his release from Tihar Jail, Trinamool Congress (TMC) heavyweight leader Anubrata Mondal returned to a warm welcome from hundreds of followers at his residence in Nichupatti, Birbhum district. Mondal, a close aide of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court, bringing a temporary pause to his long-standing legal battles.
Mondal, who was embroiled in investigations led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), has been under scrutiny for over 70 properties, land deals, and businesses, including two rice mills, allegedly linked to him and his daughter, Sukanya Mondal. While Sukanya was released on bail a week earlier, Anubrata Mondal’s bail marks a significant moment in his two-year-long legal ordeal.
“I have regard for the Court and obey the law. I was with Mamata Banerjee and will remain with her,” Anubrata Mondal said while at his party office, shortly after arriving home around 9 am on Tuesday. “I don’t know whether we will meet, I have many physical problems,” he added, when asked about a potential meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee, who referred to Mondal by his nickname “Kesto,” has been a vocal supporter of Anubrata Mondal throughout his arrest and legal proceedings, describing him as a “victim of conspiracy.” In contrast to fellow TMC leader Partha Chatterjee, who faced party suspension and lost his education portfolio following his arrest in 2022, Mondal has not faced any disciplinary action. Banerjee herself has taken on the responsibility of overseeing TMC’s Birbhum district unit since his arrest.
Mondal’s release follows a July 27 Supreme Court order granting him bail, with conditions that included the surrender of his passport and full cooperation with the CBI in their ongoing investigation into an alleged cattle smuggling scam. Despite receiving bail in the CBI case, he remained in jail due to a parallel ED probe until his release on Monday.
Sukanya Mondal, a former primary school teacher, was arrested in April 2023 as an alleged accomplice in the same case. The Delhi High Court granted her bail on September 10, a week before her father’s release.
The timing of Mondal’s return coincides with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s visit to Birbhum on Tuesday for an administrative meeting, although no confirmation has been made regarding a meeting between the two TMC leaders.
As Anubrata Mondal adjusts to life outside Tihar Jail, his legal troubles are far from over, with the ED and CBI continuing their investigation into his alleged involvement in the cattle smuggling case. However, his return to Birbhum has solidified his standing within the party, with the support of his followers and continued backing from Mamata Banerjee.
