Kolkata Police Registers FIR Against Mamata Banerjee Rally for Violating High Court Order
The Kolkata Police on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a rally led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging violation of a Calcutta High Court order. The court had directed that the Martyrs' Day rally should block only one side of the road, allowing traffic on the other. However, on Tuesday, both carriageways near the Birla Planetarium remained blocked, causing significant traffic disruptions.
The police filed a suo motu complaint against the Trinamool Congress faction led by Ms. Banerjee at Hastings Police Station. Cathedral Road, outside the Birla Planetarium, was blocked on both sides after the programme began, leading to vehicles being held up for hours on both sides. Traffic police diverted vehicles to ensure smooth movement in other parts of the city. Sources said the rally also exceeded the permitted attendance limit.
In a related development, Hastings Police Station registered another suo motu FIR regarding alleged vandalism at the rally stage on the night of July 20, ahead of the event.
Separately, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday deferred a plea by Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee seeking protection from coercive action in connection with eight FIRs. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya told Mr. Banerjee's counsel that all eight FIRs could not be clubbed together and would be considered individually. The matter was adjourned till July 30. The court asked to be informed if any coercive action is taken but did not grant protection.
Earlier, on May 21, the same court granted protection to Mr. Banerjee in a case involving an FIR over alleged inflammatory remarks during the West Bengal Assembly election. That protection remains until July 31, but the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation and warned it could be withdrawn if he failed to do so. Similar protection has not been extended in the other cases.
Since the Trinamool Congress lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party on May 4, multiple cases have been registered against Mr. Banerjee at different police stations across the state.
