Mohammed Iqbal after being released on bail on Thursday. Picture by Anup Bhattacharya

Mohammad “Munna” Iqbal stepped out of his house once, for Friday prayers, the day after the Trinamul Congress councillor charged with murder was granted bail.

The party has asked Munna to maintain a low profile at least till the panchayat elections but the strict instructions didn’t stop him from heading for his party office near the CESC factory at Garden Reach on Thursday evening, right after walking free.

“After spending some time at the party office, Munna headed home but not in a car. He walked home, followed by hundreds of people, converting it into a victory lap of sorts. He is a murder accused. Not a martyr. It was very embarrassing,” said a Trinamul source.

“The party has faced enough embarrassment over the Garden Reach incident. We do not want Munna to do anything to embarrass the party further,” a Trinamul leader in Garden Reach said.

But the public prosecutor on Thursday did not oppose the bail petition moved by Munna’s family citing his mother’s illness and seeking his release on “compassionate grounds”.

Close associates of Munna said it would be difficult to keep him in check now, especially since Shamsuzzaman Ansari, another Trinamul satrap in the area and his rival in alleged illegal construction business, has gained prominence in Munna’s absence.

Party bosses have instructed Munna to immediately resume duties as councillor of ward 134, which were being performed by his daughter Saba Iqbal in his absence.

According to a close associate, Munna’s main objective now is to get his associates out on bail and strengthen his position in the area.

“According to Munnabhai, Sheikh Subhan fired the shot that killed the cop. So only he should be charged with murder. Others should be granted bail,” said the associate.

Munna is also likely to try to resume his real estate activities soon, sources said. “Many buildings got stuck when he was arrested. Munnabhai would like to resume the construction activities immediately,” said a builder in Metiabruz.