Abhishek Banerjee gives voice samples at Bidhannagar Court in hate speech case
Synopsis
After ignoring two court notices, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee finally appeared at Bidhannagar Court on 15 July and gave voice samples to CID — but only after the Calcutta High Court warned it would strip his arrest protection if he refused. The forensic findings could now shape the next phase of this politically charged hate speech case.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee appeared at Bidhannagar Court on 15 July and submitted voice samples to the CID of West Bengal Police.
He had previously ignored two consecutive notices from the same court in connection with the hate speech case.
The Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya warned that non-compliance would result in withdrawal of interim protection from arrest valid until 31 July .
The case relates to alleged violence-inciting statements and threats directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election rally.
Voice samples were recorded in the presence of a judicial magistrate and forensic experts as directed by the court.
Banerjee left without making any statement to the media; no untoward incident was reported.
Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the Bidhannagar Court in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, 15 July and submitted his voice samples to investigators in connection with a hate speech case — doing so only after a Calcutta High Court ultimatum left him no room to refuse.
Background to the Case
Banerjee, also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, faces allegations of making violence-inciting statements and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election campaign rally held ahead of the recently concluded Assembly polls. A hate speech case was registered against him in North 24 Parganas, and the Bidhannagar Court had issued two consecutive notices directing him to appear and provide voice samples — both of which he did not comply with.
High Court Ultimatum Forces Appearance
Last week, a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court presided over by Justice Sougata Bhattacharya issued a clear ultimatum: either appear at Bidhannagar Court and submit voice samples, or face withdrawal of the interim protection from coercive police action — including arrest — that had been granted to him until 31 July. Faced with the prospect of losing that protection, Banerjee complied.
What Happened at Court on Wednesday
Banerjee arrived at the court premises at 11:55 am on Wednesday. The court had been placed under blanket security cover — as directed by the Calcutta High Court — to shield him from potential public hostility, including the possibility of egg-throwing incidents. He submitted his voice samples to officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police, which is conducting the investigation, in the presence of a judicial magistrate and forensic experts, as previously ordered by the court.
No Incident, No Comment
Elaborate police arrangements ensured Banerjee's entry and exit from the premises passed without incident. He declined to respond to questions from media persons waiting outside the court. This is the first time he has complied with the court's direction in this case, having skipped two earlier notices from the same district court.
The CID will now analyse the voice samples as part of its investigation into the hate speech allegations. The next move in the case is likely to hinge on the forensic findings and whether Banerjee's interim protection from arrest is extended beyond 31 July.
Point of View
Rather than facilitate, judicial process. The political stakes are high; the case directly implicates a senior Trinamool leader over statements targeting a sitting Union Home Minister, making it a flashpoint between Bengal's ruling party and the Centre. Whether the CID's forensic analysis accelerates proceedings or gets mired in further legal challenges will test the credibility of the investigation itself.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abhishek Banerjee give voice samples at Bidhannagar Court?
Banerjee gave voice samples on 15 July as part of a CID investigation into a hate speech case in which he is accused of making violence-inciting statements and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election rally. He appeared only after the Calcutta High Court threatened to revoke his interim protection from arrest if he did not comply.
What is the hate speech case against Abhishek Banerjee about?
The case involves allegations that Banerjee made violence-inciting statements and threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election campaign rally held before the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls. A case was registered in North 24 Parganas district.
Why had Abhishek Banerjee not appeared earlier?
Banerjee had ignored two consecutive notices from the Bidhannagar Court directing him to appear and provide voice samples. He appeared on 15 July only after the Calcutta High Court issued an ultimatum, warning that his interim protection from coercive police action — including arrest — would be withdrawn by 31 July if he did not comply.
What happens next in the case?
The CID will now subject the voice samples to forensic analysis. The outcome of that examination is expected to shape the next stage of the investigation. Banerjee's interim protection from arrest remains in force until 31 July, and any extension will likely depend on further court proceedings.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee?
Abhishek Banerjee is the General Secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Lok Sabha member from the Diamond Harbour constituency. He is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
