Abhishek Banerjee moves Calcutta HC for abroad travel permission for eye treatment
Synopsis
With multiple pending cases hanging over him, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Calcutta HC for permission to travel abroad for eye treatment — a move that lands just as the TMC fractures publicly, with a rebel faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee forming a rival national committee and freezing out both Mamata and Abhishek entirely.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee approached the Calcutta High Court on 23 June seeking seven days' permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
The matter was drawn before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya and is expected to be heard later this week.
Banerjee's eye injury originated from a road accident in October 2016 in Murshidabad district.
A rebel TMC faction led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee formed a new national working committee on Monday at a hotel in New Town, Kolkata , excluding both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee .
Arup Roy , MLA from Howrah Madhya , was named chairman of the breakaway grouping.
Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday, 23 June approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, drawing attention to the matter before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. The case is expected to be heard later this week.
Why Abhishek Sought Court Permission
The Diamond Harbour MP reportedly wants to travel abroad for eye treatment and has sought seven days' permission from the court. According to reports, there is currently no legal bar on his foreign travel. However, Banerjee's name figures in several pending cases in which the court has directed him to cooperate with the investigation — a context that prompted him to seek formal judicial clearance before departing.
The eye injury dates to October 2016, when Banerjee was involved in a road accident on his way back to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district. He sustained serious injuries to his eye in that accident and has since sought treatment at multiple hospitals in India and abroad.
TMC's Internal Crisis: The Backdrop
The travel petition comes at a particularly turbulent moment for the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Following the party's defeat in the recent Assembly elections, the organisation has reportedly fractured into two distinct factions. Party MLA and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Ritabrata Banerjee, along with his supporters, has declared open rebellion against Abhishek Banerjee and has claimed the title of the 'real' opposition party by asserting a majority in the Assembly.
Rebel Faction Forms New Committee
On Monday, the rebel Trinamool faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee convened a special session at a luxury hotel in New Town, Kolkata and constituted a new national working committee. Notably, neither Mamata Banerjee nor Abhishek Banerjee found a place in the new body. Arup Roy, a Trinamool MLA from the Howrah Madhya constituency, was named party chairman of the breakaway grouping.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court is expected to take up Abhishek Banerjee's travel petition later this week. The outcome will be closely watched given the multiple pending cases in which he has been asked to cooperate. Meanwhile, the deepening TMC split threatens to reshape the opposition landscape in West Bengal ahead of future electoral contests.
Point of View
The timing is damaging: he is petitioning a court for personal relief at the precise moment a rival TMC faction is institutionalising its rebellion. The formation of a parallel national working committee — one that explicitly excludes both Mamata and Abhishek — is not a protest gesture; it is an organisational coup attempt. Whether the Calcutta HC grants travel permission is almost secondary to the question of whether Abhishek can hold the party together from abroad while a structured opposition to his leadership is taking root at home.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Abhishek Banerjee approached the Calcutta High Court?
Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment for seven days. Although there is reportedly no current legal bar on his foreign travel, his name is linked to several pending cases in which the court has asked him to cooperate, prompting him to seek formal judicial clearance.
What is the background of Abhishek Banerjee's eye injury?
Abhishek Banerjee suffered serious eye injuries in a road accident in October 2016 while returning to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district. He has since sought treatment at hospitals in India and abroad.
What is the TMC rebel faction and who is leading it?
Following the Trinamool Congress's defeat in the Assembly elections, a rebel faction led by party MLA and Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee has broken away, claiming to be the 'real' TMC. The group convened a special session in New Town, Kolkata on Monday and formed a new national working committee, naming MLA Arup Roy as party chairman.
When will the Calcutta HC hear Abhishek Banerjee's travel petition?
The case is expected to be taken up by the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya later this week, though a specific date has not been confirmed.
Who has been excluded from the TMC rebel faction's new committee?
Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were excluded from the new national working committee formed by the rebel Trinamool faction at a luxury hotel in New Town, Kolkata on Monday.
