Calcutta High Court rejects Abhishek's protection

Abhishek Banerjee High Court Hearing drew significant attention on Thursday after the Calcutta High Court declined to grant immediate blanket protection to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP in multiple criminal cases registered against him across West Bengal. The matter was heard by Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, who questioned whether a single protective order could be extended to all pending cases, observing that such a move could adversely affect ongoing investigations.
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for July 30, while also observing that Banerjee may approach the court if any coercive action is taken against him before the next date of hearing.
Court Questions Demand for Blanket Protection
During the hearing, Justice Sougata Bhattacharya asked why blanket protection was being sought when the TMC MP already enjoys interim protection in one of the cases.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Abhishek Banerjee, clarified that the existing protection is limited to the case related to his alleged "DJ remarks." He argued that multiple FIRs have now been registered against his client and requested comprehensive interim protection covering all the cases.
However, the court observed that every criminal complaint is different and must be examined on its own merits.
Justice Bhattacharya remarked that granting identical relief in all cases could interfere with ongoing investigations.
Court Observes Each Case Has Different Facts
The High Court noted that the allegations in different police cases are not identical.
Justice Bhattacharya pointed out that complaints registered in places such as Siliguri and Bhawanipur involve different allegations and therefore cannot automatically be covered under a single protective order.
The court stressed that each case requires an independent judicial assessment before deciding whether interim protection should be granted.
State Seeks More Time
Appearing for the State, Solicitor General S.V. Raju requested additional time to present the government's submissions.
Since all parties could not complete their arguments during Thursday's hearing, the court decided to adjourn the matter and fixed July 30 as the next date of hearing.
Court Allows Banerjee to Seek Urgent Relief if Required
While declining to grant blanket interim protection immediately, the High Court clarified that Abhishek Banerjee is free to approach the court if any coercive action is initiated against him before the next hearing.
This observation provides the TMC MP with the option of seeking urgent judicial intervention should circumstances change before July 30.
Background of the Case
According to submissions made before the court, eight criminal cases have reportedly been registered against Abhishek Banerjee at different police stations across West Bengal.
He has already secured interim protection in one of those matters concerning his alleged remarks in the so-called "DJ comment" case.
The present petition seeks similar protection in the remaining cases until the legal proceedings are heard in detail.
Reference to Chief Minister Rejected by Court
During the hearing, Kapil Sibal reportedly referred to another political leader while making his submissions.
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, however, observed that comparisons with other cases were not relevant to the present proceedings.
The judge noted that previous instances involved case-specific interim protection or anticipatory bail rather than blanket relief across multiple FIRs.
What Happens Next?
The matter will now be taken up by the Calcutta High Court on July 30, when the remaining arguments from both sides are expected to be heard.
The court is likely to examine whether the facts and circumstances of each FIR justify interim protection on an individual basis.
Until then, no blanket relief has been granted, although the petitioner retains the liberty to seek urgent judicial intervention if necessary.
Conclusion
Abhishek Banerjee High Court Hearing has resulted in the Calcutta High Court declining immediate blanket protection across multiple criminal cases, citing concerns that such relief could affect ongoing investigations. While the TMC MP continues to enjoy protection in one case, the question of extending similar relief to other FIRs will now be considered during the next hearing on July 30. The court has also allowed him to seek urgent relief if any coercive action is initiated before then.