Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Calcutta High Court to request the cancellation of a first information report filed against him. The report, lodged at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station, accuses him of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the recent Assembly polls. The FIR includes non-bailable sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, such as provocation with intent to cause riot and promoting enmity between different groups based on various factors.
Two bailable sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have also been invoked against Banerjee in the FIR, including standard criminal intimidation and creating or spreading inciting statements or rumors. Additionally, the police have cited electoral laws related to corrupt practices and promoting enmity during elections in the FIR. The complaint leading to this FIR was filed by social activist Rajiv Sarkar, resulting in legal action against Banerjee.
Allegations of political vendetta have been raised by the Trinamool Congress in defense of Abhishek Banerjee amidst the evolving political landscape in the state. Furthermore, a former Trinamool Congress legislator and ex-West Bengal Minister of State, Giasuddin Molla, has also lodged a police complaint against Banerjee and one of his police officers. Molla accuses the police officer of unjustly penalizing local party members who opposed Banerjee’s leadership style.
