No enforcement action against Abhishek Banerjee: Calcutta HC directs West Bengal Police
TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. | Photo credit: PTI
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (May 21, 2026) granted relief to Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee by directing the West Bengal Police not to take any enforcement action against him till July 31, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
“After considering the relevant submissions made on behalf of the parties and taking into account the nature of the alleged offence, the court finds that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary. In addition, the petitioner’s right is protected under Section 35(3) BNSS 2023. At this stage, the court directs the concerned police authority to next July 26 against the order of the 26th, whichever comes first,” the judge’s order said Bhattacharyya’s Saugatas.
The matter relates to a First Information Report (FIR) filed against the Trinamool Congress General Secretary on 15 May 2026 for making inflammatory remarks during the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The court, however, ordered Mr. Banerjee to cooperate with the investigation and said that if he did not do so, “respondents from the concerned state could approach this court”. Mr. Banerjee would not go outside the country without the court’s permission, the order said.
Speaking at a political event in April, Mr Banerjee reportedly threatened Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters, saying: “I will see who will come to save them on May 4. I will see which godfather (reportedly referring to Amit Shah) from Delhi will come to save them.” Mr. Banerjee has repeatedly said that after May 4, when the West Bengal Assembly election results are announced, a DJ (disc jockey) will play loud music instead of Rabindra Sangeet.
During the hearing of the matter, Justice Bhattacharyya orally declared that Mr. Banerjee’s remarks were unnecessary.
“Why were these statements made? … Why were these irresponsible statements made just before the elections? There is a black history as far as this state is concerned… Post-voting violence. Also in the media, wherever it was shown. Is this consistent with the position of the petitioner (Abhishek Banerjee) as the general secretary of a political party?” said the court.
Protection from arrest
After the regime change in the state, several Trinamool leaders approached the courts seeking protection after the police filed a complaint against them.
Trinamool MLA Javed Khan on Thursday (May 21, 2026) surrendered before an Alipore court in connection with a case registered against him for rioting in the Tiljala area of town on the day the assembly election results were announced. Mr. Khan and 10 others were named in the FIR.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim relief to Pareshram Das, MLA from Canning Paschim in South 24 Parganas. The MLA approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from arrest as a result of several criminal cases filed against him. Justice Bhattacharya ordered the police not to take any action against the MLA till June 30.
Several panchayat-level Trinamool Congress leaders were arrested by the West Bengal police two weeks after the BJP government came to power in the state. Former minister and Trinamool leader Sujit Bose has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in the municipal recruitment scam.
Published – 21 May 2026 22:19 IST