Asansol Stampede Case: Calcutta HC Grants Bail To BJP Leader Jitendra Tiwari

The Calcutta High Court on Monday granted bail to BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari in the Asansol stampede case on a Rs 50,000 bond. He was also granted bail with the condition that he cannot enter Asansol without prior permission from the Court.

A Division bench led by Justice Joymalya Bagchi granted conditional bail to Jitendra Tiwari.

Tiwari, a former Trinamool Congress MLA, joined the BJP before the Bengal Assembly elections in 2021. Chaitali Tiwari, his wife, who is currently a councilor in Asansol, joined the BJP alongside Jitendra.

Jitendra Tiwari was detained by West Bengal Police in connection with the murder of three people in a stampede last December at a blanket distribution programme arranged by Chaitali.

He was initially detained at Asansol jail, where he became ill and was transferred to Asansol hospital. He was thereafter transferred to Burdwan Medical College for better treatment before being referred to SSKM hospital in Kolkata. Tiwari was remanded in judicial custody and held in Kolkata’s Presidency jail after doctors at SSKM hospital determined that he did not need to be hospitalized.

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, attended the blanket distribution ceremony held by Chitatli last year.

The stampede apparently occurred when Adhikari exited the dais, killing three people and injuring five more.

The majority of the victims were women and children. Police said that the BJP leaders did not have permission to hold the event, but the party denied this claim.