Saigal Hossain, a former bodyguard of Birbhum district Trinamul chief Anubrata Mandal and arrested by the CBI in a cattle smuggling case, was again remanded in 14 days’ judicial custody by a special court of the agency in Asansol on Thursday.
CBI’s counsels submitted to the court the execution report on the search warrant of conducting raids on the homes of stone chip trader Tulu Mandal of Suri and Birbhum zilla parishad functionary Kerim Khan and claimed important information relating to the cattle smuggling case had been obtained during the searches.
The CBI also placed before the court additional documents related to Hossain’s unaccounted for properties. Saigal, who had been in custody for 70 days, was brought from jail around 10am for his scheduled production in the court.
His lawyer Anirban Guha Thakurta moved a bail petition questioning the need for his prolonged judicial custody before citing the ill health of his mother and physically challenged daughter at home.
His lawyer also pointed out that BSF commandant Satish Kumar, who was earlier arrested in the case, was granted bail by this court after completing 32 days of custody. Guha Thakurta questioned the way of investigation of the CBI and alleged that Saigal's phone was tampered and not examined in a forensic laboratory.
The defense lawyer also claimed that they were not given the copy of the chargesheet. However, the CBI lawyer Rakesh Kumar pointed out the recent arrest of Anubrata Mandal in cattle smuggling case and objected to the bail petition citing that the investigation stands in an important point.
He argued that if Saigal was granted bail, the investigation process would be hampered. He also said that many important information and proof of links of Anubrara, Saigal and Enamul Haque, believed to be the kingpin in the cattle smuggling case, have already been found and some more would be revealed in the coming days. After an hour-long hearing, the CBI judge Rajesh Chakraborty denied bail and again sent Saigal to judicial custody till September 1.