Calcutta HC extends relief to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in three FIRs

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday extended till August 31 the interim protection from arrest granted to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in three criminal proceedings pending against him.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya extended the protection till August 31, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The court also fixed August 25 for passing its final order on Banerjee’s petition seeking quashing of the three FIRs registered against him.

The FIRs were lodged at Bhowanipore on May 27 and at Kalitala and Bishnupur on June 16. Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP, had earlier been granted interim protection till August 17.

During Tuesday’s hearing, one of the complainants opposed the protection, describing Banerjee as “super-influential” and arguing that his release from the threat of arrest could affect the investigation and later trial. The complainant’s lawyer, Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee, also sought police protection for his client.

The court, however, verbally observed that the situation in West Bengal had changed following a change in the ruling dispensation. Justice Bhattacharyya referred to the recent demolition of Banerjee’s MP office at Amtala, saying the development did not support the argument that he remained all-powerful.

The demolition was stalled by the high court during a special sitting after the matter came before it. The Advocate General, Surojit Nath Mitra, told the court that the building on Diamond Harbour Road had no sanctioned plan and was not owned by Banerjee.

Banerjee’s lawyer, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, said his client was cooperating with the investigation and would continue to do so. He also referred to the high court’s October 2025 decision quashing 13 FIRs against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju opposed Banerjee’s plea, arguing that an FIR disclosing a cognisable offence cannot ordinarily be quashed at the threshold and that the investigation remained at a nascent stage.

The state had informed the court on August 6 that 16 FIRs were pending against Banerjee across different police stations over various allegations. The matter continues.