Junior Union minister Barla surrenders in court, gets bail

Jalpaiguri: Junior Union minister John Barla surrendered before the Tufanganj sub-divisional court on Saturday, four days after the court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.The court fined the contemnor Rs 500 before granting his bail petition.The arrest warrant was issued after Barla committed contempt by not turning up to court summons, asking for his physical appearance in a case filed by the Election Commission in 2019.The commission found that the junior Union minister had organized a motorbike rally flouting the EC directive. The judicial magistrate of the Tufanganj court had summoned the minister on November 15.The court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant after Barla did not turn up, nor did any lawyer appear on his behalf.