Junior home minister Nisith surrenders before court

Jalpaiguri: Union minister of state for home Nisith Pramanik surrendered before the judicial magistrate of Alipurduar court on Tuesday in connection to an arrest warrant issued against him in November last year after he did not turn up to earlier summons by the court. Granting him bail, the court instructed Pramanik to ensure that his lawyer represents him in the subsequent hearings, if he was not able to appear in person. The Alipurduar court had issued a warrant against Pramanik and others in connection with alleged thefts in two jewellery stores in 2009. The cases were shifted to Barasat court, but were moved back to Alipurduar after he pleaded in Calcutta High Court. Pramanik’s lawyer Somsankar Dutta said that he had been instructed to appear before the Alipurduar court by January 12. “He appeared on Tuesday and was granted bail. His lawyer would appear on his behalf from the next hearing,” Dutta said. Pramanik blamed the erstwhile Left government for framing him in the case. “My name was not on the FIR. The then Left government framed me to ruin my political career,” he said.