Calcutta High Court Seeks Report on Pending Complaints Against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to inform TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee about the number of complaints pending against him in various police stations across the state. The order came during the hearing of a petition filed by Banerjee, who sought relief from what he termed 'unreasonable complaints' registered against him since the change of government in the state.
Appearing for the Diamond Harbour MP, his counsel argued that the allegations were fueled by political vendetta, questioning the role of police in filing the complaints. They claimed that after the TMC was defeated in the recently concluded Assembly elections, police began registering FIRs in cases related to incidents from four to five years ago, involving Banerjee or his close aides. The counsel alleged that these FIRs were intended to suppress the voice of a political opponent. Banerjee had moved the High Court seeking to know how many FIRs have been filed against him across West Bengal.
Hearing the matter, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya verbally directed the state's Additional Advocate General Billwadal Bhattacharya to submit a report detailing the number of complaints currently pending against Banerjee in various police stations. The court did not pass any interim order on Banerjee's request to stay the registration of new complaints.
The hearing coincided with Banerjee appearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate at the Bidhannagar Court to provide his voice sample in a case related to an alleged intimidatory speech made during the 2026 Assembly election campaign. The High Court had earlier granted him interim protection on condition that he cooperate with the investigation. After skipping two previous appearances, Banerjee complied on Wednesday.
Banerjee arrived at the court in a four-car convoy around 11:50 am amid tight security. Bidhannagar police had deployed a large force to prevent gatherings at the court gates. Banerjee spent about an hour and a half inside the magistrate's chambers and left without speaking to journalists. According to sources, the investigating officer and a technician were present during the recording of the voice sample.
The complainant in the intimidatory speech case, Rajib Sarkar, expressed satisfaction that the voice sample was taken. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sarkar said, 'I am very happy that the voice sample has been taken; I am satisfied with the IO. Previously, the police could not work but now they are... Before the Assembly elections, they (the TMC) had tried to kill me... I had written to the then Governor and an inquiry report was sent to the Chief Minister's Office. Yesterday, I was informed that a letter has been sent to the Director General of Police regarding my security. We have also moved court today in this matter as there is a threat to my life.'
The complainant's advocate, Rajdeep Majumdar, said, 'We are satisfied that his voice sample has been taken but we have also filed another petition in the court regarding the security for my client as there is a threat to his life. Though it has been stated that special security be given to my client but that has not yet been arranged by Baguihati Thana.'
Special Public Prosecutor Bibash Chatterjee told mediapersons that the CID had requested the voice sample as it was crucial for the case, and the court had allowed the prayer. Banerjee had failed to appear on the previous two dates, causing delays.
