Calcutta HC rejects Abhishek Banerjee's fast-track plea for foreign travel, second time
Synopsis
For the second time in less than a week, the Calcutta High Court has refused to fast-track Abhishek Banerjee's plea for permission to travel abroad for eye treatment — a restriction rooted in a CID probe into alleged signature forgery by TMC legislators. With the court insisting on routine scheduling, the TMC's second-in-command remains grounded indefinitely.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court Justice Saugata Bhattacharya rejected Abhishek Banerjee's fast-track hearing plea for the second time on 29 June .
Abhishek Banerjee , TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha member, seeks 7-day foreign travel for ophthalmic treatment.
Overseas travel is barred under conditions set by Justice Kaushik Chanda linked to a CID signature-mismatch case probe.
The CID has questioned Abhishek twice in connection with alleged forged signatures of TMC legislators on a West Bengal Assembly resolution.
The eye injury dates to an October 2016 road accident in Murshidabad district; the petition will now be heard in the routine cause list.
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya on Monday, 29 June rejected for the second time a plea by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee seeking a fast-track hearing on his petition for permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment. The court directed that the matter will be taken up in the normal course as per the scheduled cause list.
Background: Why Court Permission Is Required
Abhishek's overseas travel is currently barred under conditions imposed by a separate single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court — that of Justice Kaushik Chanda. Justice Chanda had granted Abhishek interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest, in connection with an ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe, but with the explicit condition that he could not travel abroad without prior court permission.
The CID probe relates to a signature-mismatch case involving the signatures of certain TMC legislators on a resolution concerning appointments to opposition positions in the West Bengal Assembly. The legislators had claimed their signatures were forged. In connection with this probe, Abhishek — the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — was questioned twice by CID sleuths following the court's order.
The Petition and First Rejection
On 23 June, Abhishek Banerjee moved a petition before Justice Bhattacharya's bench seeking permission for a seven-day foreign trip for ophthalmic treatment, accompanied by a plea for expedited hearing. On 24 June, Justice Bhattacharya declined to grant a fast-track hearing, observing that no sufficient reason existed and that the matter would proceed in the normal course.
Second Rejection on Monday
Undeterred, Abhishek's counsel returned to the same bench on Monday with a renewed request for a fast-track hearing. Justice Bhattacharya again rejected the plea, reiterating that the petition would be heard as per the scheduled cause list. No date for the substantive hearing has been announced.
The Eye Injury: Medical Context
The medical need cited in the petition traces back to October 2016, when Abhishek Banerjee suffered serious injuries to his eye in a road accident while returning to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district. He subsequently sought treatment at multiple hospitals in India before pursuing care abroad. The petition contends that ongoing ophthalmic treatment abroad remains medically necessary.
What Happens Next
The petition for foreign travel permission will now be listed for hearing in the routine cause list before Justice Bhattacharya's bench. Until the court rules on the substantive petition, Abhishek Banerjee's overseas travel remains restricted under the conditions set by Justice Chanda's earlier order. The outcome of the CID signature-mismatch probe, which underpins the travel restriction, is also being closely watched by political observers in West Bengal.
Point of View
Not a verdict — but the practical effect is the same: Abhishek Banerjee stays grounded. What is notable is that the travel restriction flows not from a criminal conviction or even a chargesheet, but from interim conditions attached to protection from arrest. That is an unusual legal bind — where the very order shielding him from arrest also clips his mobility. The signature-mismatch case, involving alleged forgery of legislators' signatures on an Assembly resolution, is politically sensitive for the TMC at a time when the party is navigating a complex relationship with the central investigative apparatus. How quickly the substantive travel petition is heard will be a test of whether the court's routine scheduling works in practice or becomes a de facto extended restriction.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court reject Abhishek Banerjee's fast-track hearing plea?
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya's bench stated there was no sufficient reason to grant an expedited hearing and directed that the petition would be taken up in the normal scheduled cause list. This was the second such rejection in less than a week, the first having come on 24 June.
Why does Abhishek Banerjee need court permission to travel abroad?
A separate bench of the Calcutta High Court, presided over by Justice Kaushik Chanda, granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from arrest in a CID probe but imposed a condition barring overseas travel without prior court permission. That restriction remains in force.
What is the CID signature-mismatch case involving Abhishek Banerjee?
The case involves alleged forgery of signatures of certain TMC legislators on a resolution related to appointments for opposition positions in the West Bengal Assembly. The CID has questioned Abhishek Banerjee twice in connection with this probe.
What is the medical reason behind Abhishek Banerjee's foreign travel petition?
Abhishek Banerjee suffered serious eye injuries in a road accident in October 2016 while returning to Kolkata from Murshidabad. He has since sought ophthalmic treatment in India and abroad, and his petition states that continued treatment abroad is medically necessary.
What happens next in the Calcutta High Court case?
The petition seeking permission for a seven-day foreign trip will now be heard as part of the routine cause list before Justice Bhattacharya's bench. Until the court rules on the substantive petition, Abhishek Banerjee's overseas travel remains restricted.
