The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim protection to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee by directing the West Bengal Police not to take any coercive action against him in connection with three criminal cases registered between May 27 and June 16, 2026.
The single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the interim order while hearing Banerjee’s plea alleging that multiple criminal cases had been registered against him as part of a politically motivated campaign following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) assumption of power in West Bengal on May 4.
The Court also directed the State police to place on record details of all FIRs currently pending against Banerjee. However, it clarified that, at this stage, it would examine only the three FIRs specifically pleaded in the petition, as complete particulars of the remaining cases had not been furnished.
The three cases in which interim protection has been granted are Bhawanipur Police Station Case No. 121/2026 dated May 27, 2026, Kalitala Police Station Case No. 140/2026 dated June 16, 2026 and Bishnupur Police Station Case No. 668/2026 dated June 16, 2026. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 6.
Appearing for Banerjee, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan submitted that a total of eleven FIRs had been lodged against his client within a short span. He informed the Court that while the writ petition initially referred to eight FIRs, three additional cases had been registered after its filing.
Sankaranarayanan argued that the complaints relate to incidents dating back several years, including allegations of irregularities in the distribution of Cyclone Amphan relief funds in 2020 and illegal mining activities between 2017 and 2025. He contended that the FIRs do not prima facie disclose any offence by Banerjee and that there is no satisfactory explanation for the delay in initiating criminal proceedings.
The State strongly opposed the plea. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the West Bengal government, questioned the maintainability of a single petition seeking relief against multiple FIRs and argued that Banerjee could not seek blanket protection from investigation.
Mehta submitted that granting such relief would amount to extending special treatment to one individual, contrary to the principle that every accused must pursue remedies available under law in each case separately. The Court, however, observed that the registration of numerous FIRs against one individual within a brief period was an unusual circumstance.
The State further argued that delay in registration of FIRs cannot, by itself, justify quashing criminal proceedings, particularly where the alleged offences were committed when the accused held influence. Raju also contended that allegations of mala fides are insufficient to invalidate an FIR if it discloses a cognisable offence and maintained that any request for protection from arrest should ordinarily be pursued through anticipatory bail.
In response, Sankaranarayanan relied on an earlier order of the Calcutta High Court granting interim protection to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari when he had alleged political vendetta during the previous TMC government. He urged the Court to extend similar protection to Banerjee, arguing that repeated FIRs could otherwise be used to harass political opponents.
While granting interim relief in the three identified FIRs, Justice Bhattacharyya made it clear that the Court was not inclined, at this stage, to restrain the registration of any future FIRs against Banerjee. The scope of the proceedings will remain confined to the cases presently under challenge.
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