Calcutta HC orders Mamata, Abhishek Banerjee to file affidavits in contempt case
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has directed both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee to file affidavits in a contempt case tied to the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally that allegedly blocked the Esplanade junction in central Kolkata — in direct violation of a 2018 court order banning political parties from obstructing major road junctions in the city.
Key Takeaways
A Calcutta High Court division bench on 3 July directed Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee to file affidavits in a contempt of court case.
Contempt notices were originally served on 19 June by the bench of Justice Arjit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy .
The case relates to the TMC Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025 , which allegedly blocked the Esplanade junction in central Kolkata .
A 2018 Calcutta High Court order prohibits political parties from obstructing major road junctions in the city.
The next hearing is scheduled for August , by which all parties must submit affidavits.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 3 July directed former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, to file affidavits in a contempt of court case stemming from the party's annual Martyrs' Day rally held in central Kolkata on 21 July 2025. The court set August as the deadline for submissions, when the next hearing will be held.
Background: The Contempt Notice
The division bench — comprising Justice Arjit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy — had served contempt of court notices on both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on 19 June, following a petition alleging that the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025 violated a standing 2018 Calcutta High Court order. The matter came up for a preliminary hearing before the same bench on 3 July, at which all parties were directed to file affidavits.
The 2018 Court Order That Was Allegedly Violated
In 2018, a division bench comprising Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee had ruled that no political rally in Kolkata could block any main or important road junction. The order mandated that a portion of the road must remain open for pedestrians and vehicles at all times, and that ambulances and other emergency services must be guaranteed free movement — with alternative diversion routes arranged where necessary.
The 2018 ruling also required police to notify the public in advance through the media about traffic diversion plans, and warned that legal action would follow any vandalism, noise, or violence during political gatherings.
What the Petition Alleges
A recent petition filed before the Calcutta High Court claimed that the 2018 order was completely disregarded during the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025. Specifically, the petition alleged that an important junction at Esplanade in central Kolkata was entirely blocked during the event, causing what it described as 'immense inconvenience' to the general public.
What Happens Next
All parties, including Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, are required to file their affidavits before the next scheduled hearing in August. The case marks a significant legal test of whether political rallies in Kolkata can be held accountable under the court's longstanding traffic and public-access directives. How the bench proceeds after reviewing the affidavits could set a precedent for how similar violations are treated in the future.
Point of View
But for what they signal: courts are increasingly willing to hold political leadership directly accountable for rally-related violations, rather than treating them as administrative oversights. The 2018 order has been on the books for seven years — the fact that a ruling of this vintage is now being invoked in a contempt case against a former chief minister suggests enforcement was largely symbolic until now. With Mamata Banerjee's political standing already under pressure following the TMC's loss of power in West Bengal, the August hearing carries stakes beyond the legal. How the party responds in its affidavits — whether it contests the violation or offers mitigation — will shape both the court outcome and the political optics heading into the next election cycle.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Calcutta High Court issued contempt notices to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee?
The Calcutta High Court issued contempt notices to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on 19 June over the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally held on 21 July 2025, which allegedly violated a 2018 court order banning political parties from blocking major road junctions in Kolkata. The petition specifically claims that the Esplanade junction in central Kolkata was entirely blocked during the event.
What did the 2018 Calcutta High Court order say?
The 2018 order, passed by a division bench of Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee, ruled that no political rally in Kolkata could obstruct any main or important road junction. It required that roads remain partially open for pedestrians and vehicles, that ambulances and emergency services have free passage, and that police inform the public about traffic diversions in advance.
What has the court directed now?
On 3 July, the division bench of Justice Arjit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy directed all parties in the case — including Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee — to file affidavits by August, when the next hearing will take place.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee?
Abhishek Banerjee is the general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress and the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He is a key figure in the party's organisational structure.
What happens if the contempt case proceeds?
If the court finds merit in the contempt petition after reviewing the affidavits, it could initiate formal contempt proceedings against Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. The outcome of the August hearing will determine the next course of legal action.
