Abhishek Banerjee serves ₹10 crore defamation notice on Madan Mitra
Synopsis
Abhishek Banerjee has gone legal against rebel TMC legislator Madan Mitra, slapping a ₹10 crore defamation notice over a 19 July live video — and demanding the money fund an anti-defection trust rather than his own pocket. It is a move that doubles as a personal legal strike and a party-discipline signal rolled into one.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee served a ₹10 crore defamation notice on rebel TMC legislator Madan Mitra on 21 July 2026 .
The notice was issued by counsel Shrobana Sengupta over allegedly defamatory statements made during Mitra's live video on 19 July 2026 .
Mitra has been given 72 hours to pay the compensation and issue a public apology in written and video formats.
The ₹10 crore is to be deposited into a registered trust funding anti-defection proceedings and legal aid for political violence victims.
The notice was served via email linked to Mitra's Facebook profile and Form 26 affidavit , as well as by Speed Post.
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, served a legal notice on rebel party legislator Madan Mitra, demanding ₹10 crore in compensation for allegedly defamatory statements made against him on social media. The notice, issued through Banerjee's counsel Shrobana Sengupta, accuses Mitra of spreading 'false, fabricated, malicious and defamatory' content targeting the MP's reputation and political standing.
What the Legal Notice Demands
The notice calls on Madan Mitra to pay ₹10 crore within three days (72 hours) of receipt. It specifies that the compensation amount will not be retained personally by Banerjee — instead, it is to be deposited into a registered trust. According to the notice, the trust will fund defection proceedings against members who have left the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), as well as provide legal aid and rehabilitation support to victims of political violence allegedly linked to false criminal cases.
Beyond the financial demand, Mitra has been directed to issue a public apology — in both written and video formats — for remarks he made during a live video broadcast on 19 July 2026.
The Defamation Trigger
The legal action stems from statements Mitra reportedly made during his 19 July live video, which Banerjee's counsel characterises as damaging to the MP's 'personal reputation, political standing, credibility and goodwill.' The notice was served via email — to addresses linked to Mitra's verified Facebook profile and disclosed in his Form 26 affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India during the West Bengal Legislative Assembly (WBLA) elections of 2026 — as well as by Speed Post through India Post.
The Political Context
Mitra is identified in the notice as a 'rebel' legislator, placing this dispute squarely within the broader internal turbulence gripping the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The trust mechanism proposed in the notice — specifically earmarked for anti-defection proceedings — signals that Banerjee is framing this not merely as a personal grievance but as part of a wider effort to discipline dissent within the party.
Notably, the notice explicitly names the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as allegedly acting in concert with 'unattached defected Members of Lok Sabha and of West Bengal Legislative Assembly,' suggesting the legal offensive is also intended as a political statement ahead of what remains a charged electoral environment in the state.
What Happens Next
Mitra has been given a 72-hour window from receipt of the notice to respond and comply. The notice makes clear that Banerjee reserves all legal rights and remedies, and that silence or non-compliance could escalate the matter to formal legal proceedings. Whether Mitra responds, apologises, or contests the notice will determine the next move in what is shaping up as one of the more publicly charged intra-party disputes in West Bengal politics this year.
Point of View
Not merely a personal slight. The explicit naming of the BJP as a co-conspirator in the notice also suggests this is as much a public relations offensive as a legal one. Whether Mitra capitulates or contests will test how much leverage Banerjee actually holds over the rebel faction within an increasingly fractious TMC.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abhishek Banerjee serve a legal notice on Madan Mitra?
Abhishek Banerjee served the notice accusing Madan Mitra of making false, fabricated, malicious, and defamatory statements against him on social media, particularly during a live video on 19 July 2026. The notice seeks ₹10 crore in compensation for alleged damage to Banerjee's personal reputation, political standing, and credibility.
What is Madan Mitra being asked to do?
Mitra has been asked to pay ₹10 crore within 72 hours of receiving the notice and to issue a public apology in both written and video formats. Failure to comply could lead to formal legal proceedings, as Banerjee has reserved all rights and remedies available under law.
Where will the ₹10 crore compensation go if paid?
According to the legal notice, the ₹10 crore will be deposited into a registered trust — not retained by Banerjee personally. The trust is intended to fund anti-defection proceedings against members who have left the AITC and to provide legal aid and rehabilitation support to victims of alleged political violence.
Who is Madan Mitra and why is he described as a rebel?
Madan Mitra is a West Bengal legislator and member of the Trinamool Congress who has reportedly taken positions at odds with the party leadership, earning the label of 'rebel legislator' in Banerjee's legal notice. The dispute is part of broader intra-party tensions within the TMC in West Bengal.
How was the legal notice delivered to Madan Mitra?
The notice was served via email to addresses linked to Mitra's verified Facebook profile and disclosed in his Form 26 affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India during the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, as well as by Speed Post through India Post.
