“We may lodge a complaint with the higher authorities against the Presidency Jail officials. Our course of action will be decided after discussing the matter with my client," said Todi's lawyer Dip Narayan Mitra.

Following his release on Sunday, the businessman urged the media to enquire into the delay. "I do not know why the authorities did not let me go even after my lawyers had submitted a copy of the release order in time. I will definitely try to find out," said Todi before heading for his Salt Lake residence.

When contacted, Presidency Central Jail Superintendent Khairul Anam, however, said: "We officially received the court's order at 5.10 pm on Saturday. At that time all the inmates were locked up inside. He was released only after the paper work was completed. Pradip Todi's allegation is baseless."