Man who questioned Mamata Banerjee granted bail

A West Bengal court Friday granted bail to Shiladitya Chowdhury, who was arrested after he had publicly questioned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about her government's policies towards farmers.

"A West Midnapore district court Friday granted bail to my client Chowdhury on a personal bond of Rs.1,000. Though he was charged with several non-bailable offences, the court deemed it fit to grant him bail," Chowdhury's counsel Thirthankar Dhapat said.

Chowdhury, a marginal farmer, was arrested Aug 11 and booked for "disrupting a public rally, entering into a high security zone and assaulting police personnel".

While Banerjee was addressing a rally Aug 8 in the Maoist-affected Belpahari area in West Midnapore district, Chowdhury stood up and asked Banerjee: "Farmers are dying because they have no money. Empty promises are not enough. What are you doing for farmers?"

Stunned by the question, an angry Banerjee immediately branded him a "Maoist", following which Chowdhury was detained and taken for interrogation by the police.

He was, however, allowed to go that day but was later arrested.

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has already ordered a probe into his arrest.