A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court dismissed Abhishek Banerjee’s request to cancel the FIR lodged against him but provided interim safeguard from police actions, including arrest, until July 31. The court set conditions for this protection, prohibiting Banerjee from traveling abroad without prior authorization and mandating full cooperation with the police during the investigation. The next hearing is scheduled for July 30.
In the FIR filed against Banerjee at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station, he is accused of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the recent state Assembly elections. The FIR includes two non-bailable sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for provocation leading to riots and promoting enmity between different groups based on various factors. Banerjee had sought the FIR’s annulment on May 18, which was rejected by the court, granting him temporary protection until July 21.
Justice Bhattacharya expressed concerns over Banerjee’s remarks at a pre-election rally, questioning how a political party’s general secretary and MP could make such provocative statements, especially in a state known for post-poll violence. The judge highlighted the potential law and order issues if the election results had been different, emphasizing the delicate situation in West Bengal post the Assembly polls.
