Abhishek Banerjee serves legal notice to Bengal minister over false quotes
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee has taken legal aim at a Bengal cabinet minister, accusing her of falsely attributing to him a statement that his personal assistant had died — on the very day the Supreme Court cleared him to travel abroad for eye treatment and that assistant appeared before the CID for the third straight day.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee served a legal notice to West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul on 10 August 2026 .
Paul allegedly told media that Abhishek's bid to travel abroad for treatment was linked to his efforts to protect aide Sumit Roy .
The notice, issued by counsel Arka Kumar Nag , denies Abhishek ever stated that Sumit Roy had died.
The Supreme Court on the same day permitted Abhishek to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment.
Sumit Roy appeared before the CID for the third consecutive day in connection with an alleged illegal land-grabbing FIR.
Paul has been asked to publicly withdraw and clarify her statement made on 9 August 2026 .
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Monday, 10 August 2026, served a legal notice to West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul, accusing her of making false and inappropriate statements to the media about him in connection with his personal assistant, Sumit Roy. The notice demands a public withdrawal and clarification of the remarks.
What the Legal Notice Alleges
According to the notice, Paul — a fashion designer-turned-politician — reportedly told media persons that Abhishek Banerjee's efforts to protect Sumit Roy were linked to his seeking Supreme Court permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Abhishek's counsel, Arka Kumar Nag, categorically denied that his client ever made the statement attributed to him — specifically, that Sumit Roy had died.
'My client reiterates and places on record that he has never made the statement attributed to him by you. My client has never stated that Shri Sumit Ray has died and has never made any statement establishing or suggesting the purported connection referred to by you,' the notice read.
Supreme Court Permits Abhishek to Travel Abroad
On the same day the notice was served, a division bench of the Supreme Court permitted Abhishek Banerjee — nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment. The court's clearance came amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding his personal assistant.
Sumit Roy Appears Before CID for Third Day
Sumit Roy, who had earlier been absconding, appeared at the office of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police for the third consecutive day on Monday to face interrogation. He is being questioned in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) registered against him in an alleged illegal land-grabbing case.
What Abhishek's Notice Demands
The legal notice called on Agnimitra Paul to withdraw her statement and issue a 'clear, unequivocal clarification' in the same public domain where her remarks of 9 August 2026 were made. The notice further warned Paul to ensure all information about Abhishek placed before her by her officers or department is 'properly verified and factually accurate' before being publicly stated.
In pointed language, the notice cautioned that Paul must be 'properly and accurately informed, so that you are not deliberately kept ill-informed and publicly mocked or ridiculed as an ill-informed Minister of the State of West Bengal.' The escalating legal and political row underscores the deepening tensions within West Bengal's ruling establishment ahead of the state's next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Warning Paul against being 'publicly mocked as an ill-informed minister,' is designed to embarrass the BJP leader in public. The timing is notable: Abhishek fired the notice on the same day the Supreme Court cleared his foreign travel, turning a defensive moment into an offensive one. What this episode reveals is the increasingly litigious texture of Bengal's political rivalries, where press conferences beget legal notices and courtrooms double as campaign venues. The real question is whether Paul's remarks were a calculated provocation or a genuine miscommunication — and whether her party will stand by her or let her walk it back quietly.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abhishek Banerjee send a legal notice to Agnimitra Paul?
Abhishek Banerjee sent a legal notice to West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul on 10 August 2026, accusing her of falsely attributing to him a statement that his personal assistant Sumit Roy had died. The notice also alleged she wrongly linked his Supreme Court plea for foreign medical travel to his efforts to protect Roy.
What did Agnimitra Paul allegedly say about Abhishek Banerjee?
Paul reportedly told media persons that Abhishek's attempts to protect Sumit Roy were connected to his approaching the Supreme Court for permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment. She was also accused of falsely quoting Abhishek as saying Sumit Roy might have died — a claim his legal notice firmly denies.
What did the Supreme Court decide on 10 August 2026 regarding Abhishek Banerjee?
A division bench of the Supreme Court permitted Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment on 10 August 2026, the same day he served the legal notice on Minister Paul.
Who is Sumit Roy and why is he being questioned by the CID?
Sumit Roy is the personal assistant of Abhishek Banerjee. He had earlier been absconding and appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police for the third consecutive day on 10 August 2026, in connection with an FIR registered against him in an alleged illegal land-grabbing case.
What does the legal notice demand from Agnimitra Paul?
The notice demands that Paul withdraw her statement and issue a clear, public clarification in the same forum where her original remarks of 9 August 2026 were made. It also calls on her to ensure all information about Abhishek provided by her department is verified before being publicly stated.
