No coercive action against Abhishek Banerjee: Calcutta HC directs West Bengal Police

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (May 21, 2026) provided relief to Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee by directing the West Bengal Police to not take any coercive step against him till July 31, 2026 or until further orders were passed, whichever was earlier.

“Having considered the respective submissions made on behalf of the parties and taking note of the nature of alleged offence, the Court finds that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not necessary. Furthermore, the right of the petitioner is protected under Section 35(3) of BNSS 2023. At this stage, the Court directs the concerned police authority not to take any coercive step against the petitioner till 31st July, 2026 or until further order, whichever is earlier,” the order by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said.

The matter relates to a First Information Report (FIR) filed against the Trinamool Congress general secretary on May 15, 2026 for making inflammatory remarks during the West Bengal Assembly election.

The court, however, directed Mr. Banerjee to cooperate with the investigation, and said that if he did not, “the concerned State respondents would be at liberty to approach this Court”. Mr. Banerjee would not go outside the country without taking leave of the court, the order said.

Speaking at a political event in April, Mr. Banerjee had allegedly threatened supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying: “I will see who comes to save them on May 4. I will see which godfather (allegedly referring to Amit Shah) from Delhi comes to their rescue.” Mr. Banerjee had repeatedly said that after May 4, when the results of the West Bengal Assembly election were declared, loud music would be played by a DJ (disc jockey) instead of Rabindra Sangeet. 

During the hearing of the matter, Justice Bhattacharyya orally stated that Mr. Banerjee’s remarks were uncalled for.

“Why were these statements made? ... Why were these irresponsible statements made just before elections? There is black history so far as this State is concerned … Post poll violence. In the media also, everywhere it was shown. Does it match the status of the petitioner (Abhishek Banerjee) being general secretary of a political party?” the court said.

Protection from arrest

After the change of regime in the State, several Trinamool leaders have approached the courts to seek protection after police complaints are filed against them.

Trinamool MLA Javed Khan on Thursday (May 21, 2026) surrendered before the Alipore court in connection with a case registered against him for unrest in the Tiljala area of the city on the day the Assembly election results were declared. Mr. Khan and 10 others were named in the FIR.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted temporary relief to Pareshram Das, the MLA from Canning Paschim in South 24 Parganas. The MLA had approached the High Court seeking protection from arrest in the wake of several criminal cases filed against him. Justice Bhattacharya ordered the police to not take any action against the MLA till June 30.

Several leaders of the Trinamool Congress at the panchayat level have been arrested by the West Bengal Police in the two weeks since the BJP government came to power in the State. Former Minister and Trinamool leader Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in a municipal recruitment scam.