Calcutta High Court Grants Abhishek Banerjee Protection from Coercive Action Till July 31

PTI, May 21, 2026, Kolkata : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee protection from coercive action till July 31 in connection with an FIR lodged over alleged remarks made during a public meeting last month.

The MP had approached the court seeking quashing of the FIR filed against him for comments made against leaders and workers of a rival political party during a public rally held on April 27, ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed Banerjee, who is also the TMC’s national general secretary, to cooperate with the investigation and comply with notices issued by the investigating officer.

The court further ordered that he shall not travel abroad without prior permission of the court.

During the hearing, the judge also questioned whether it was appropriate for a Member of Parliament and a senior party leader to make such statements in public forums, observing that “irresponsible statements” had been made.

Justice Bhattacharyya remarked that West Bengal has a “very dark history of post-poll violence,” while asking what the consequences could have been had the ruling party won the election.

The court also raised the issue of whether Banerjee’s comments were consistent with his position as an all-India general secretary of the Trinamool Congress.

Granting interim relief, the court ordered that no coercive steps shall be taken against him till July 31 and fixed the next hearing on July 20.

Appearing on behalf of the state government, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumder opposed the plea but submitted that the investigation would proceed in accordance with due process of law.