Calcutta High Court Grants Protection to Abhishek Banerjee

The Calcutta High Court has provided a protective measure to Abhishek Banerjee, Member of Parliament for the Trinamool Congress, preventing the West Bengal Police from taking harmful actions against him concerning remarks made about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during election rallies. This protective order is effective until July 31 or until the case reaches a resolution.

Additionally, the court has mandated that Banerjee cannot travel outside the jurisdiction without prior approval and must notify the investigating officer at least 48 hours before any movement.

Recently, an FIR was lodged against Banerjee at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station, stemming from accusations related to provocative speeches delivered throughout the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign. The FIR was registered on May 15, following a complaint by social activist Rajib Sarkar, submitted on May 5—one day after the election results were published.

Sarkar's complaint, filed at the Baguiati Police Station, alleged that Banerjee issued inflammatory comments during several campaign events conducted from April 27 to May 3. The grievance further claimed that the speeches not only incited enmity and disturbed public peace but also included threats directed towards Amit Shah.

Accompanying the complaint, Sarkar provided evidence in the form of links to various speeches made by Banerjee. In response to the complaint, police confirmed the registration of the FIR under numerous sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relate to public order, rioting, and misconduct, as well as specific sections of the Representation of the People Act.

The FIR describes these speeches as containing provocative and threatening language that could incite public disorder and disturb communal harmony. Furthermore, authorities alleged that Banerjee employed aggressive rhetoric against opposition party workers at several public gatherings during the election period, which is the basis for the current legal scrutiny.

This situation highlights ongoing tensions as political figures navigate the charged landscape of election rhetoric and its consequences in West Bengal.