A division bench of the Calcutta High Court has instructed former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Trinamool Congress’ general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, to submit affidavits in a contempt of court case. The case pertains to a Trinamool Congress rally on July 21, 2025, which allegedly violated a 2018 court order prohibiting political parties from blocking important road junctions in Kolkata.
The court directed all involved parties, including Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, to file the necessary documents by August for the upcoming hearing. In 2018, a different division bench of the Calcutta High Court had ruled that political rallies should not obstruct key junctions and that access for pedestrians and vehicles must be maintained.
Furthermore, the court had mandated that emergency services should have unhindered movement and alternative routes should be arranged if needed. The 2018 order also required the police to inform the public in advance about any traffic diversions during political events and warned of legal consequences for any disruptions or violence.
A recent petition filed in the Calcutta High Court alleged that the 2018 court order was disregarded during the Trinamool Congress Martyrs’ Day rally last year. The petition claimed that the rally blocked a crucial junction in Central Kolkata, causing significant inconvenience to the public.
