Pradipta Chakraborty, the Trinamul leader of South Dinajpur accused of forcing some tribal women to perform the “dandi” atonement act in April when they returned to Trinamul after joining the BJP for a day, was granted bail by a local court in Balurghat on Friday.

On April 7, Pradipta, who was then the district president of Trinamul’s women’s wing and the vice-chairperson of Balurghat municipality, made the women perform the “dandi”, a physically arduous act, on a street in Balurghat town. After the act, they were re-inducted to Trinamul.

Soon afterwards, a video showing the women performing the “dandi” surfaced on social media, putting Trinamul on the back foot. Tribal organisations and the BJP charged Trinamul with humiliating the tribal population, which form around 17 per cent of the population in the district.

The party resorted to damage control and Pradiptawas immediately removed from the post of district women’s wing president. Later, Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul’s national general secretary, met the tribal women as a part of his statewide outreach drive when he reached the district. After Abhishek’s visit, Pradipta was also removed from the vice-chairperson's post in Balurghat municipality.

Police investigated the case. Earlier this month, the charge sheet was filed in court. Pradipta’s name was mentioned in the charge sheet.

On July 16, she filed a bail petition in court, said sources.

“On Friday, the court heard her (Pradipta’s) petition in the presence of women who performed the dandi act and the person who filed the complaint against her. After the hearing, the court granted her bail,” said a lawyer.