In a significant legal development just ahead of the assembly elections, Saradha Group chairman Sudipta Sen is set to walk out of prison after nearly 13 years. On Wednesday, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, granted him bail in the remaining two cases filed by the Barasat police, clearing all legal obstacles for his release.

Sudipta Sen had already secured bail in all cases filed by the CBI, but his release was stalled due to these pending state police matters. While granting bail on a personal bond of ₹5,000, the court imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his passport and regular attendance at the local police station.

The High Court took a stern view of the delay in judicial proceedings, questioning why the trial had not commenced even a decade after the charge sheet was filed in 2014. Justice Bharadwaj also expressed shock over the undervalued sale of Saradha’s properties, noting that bungalows and flats were sold for a mere ₹52 lakh. His lawyer emphasized Sen’s deteriorating health and the prolonged incarceration without a trial as grounds for relief. As he prepares to step out of Presidency Jail this Thursday, his release is expected to stir the political waters in Bengal.