Calcutta HC directs Bengal DGP to report on FIRs against Abhishek Banerjee
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has asked West Bengal's top cop to account for every case and FIR filed against TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee — a move that could either expose the full legal exposure of the Diamond Harbour MP or lend weight to his counsel's claim of political vendetta. The answer arrives on 22 July.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya directed the West Bengal DGP's office to submit a detailed report on 15 July .
The report must cover all cases and FIRs registered against Abhishek Banerjee , TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, across police stations in the state.
Banerjee's counsel confirmed awareness of eight FIRs but sought clarity on the total number of cases.
The counsel alleged the cases were filed out of 'sheer vendetta' given Banerjee's political profile; the state government denied any political motivation.
The next hearing is scheduled for 22 July , by which date the DGP's office must file the report.
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 15 July directed the office of the Director General of Police (DGP), West Bengal, to submit a detailed report on the total number of cases and First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against Abhishek Banerjee, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour, across various police stations in the state.
What the Court Directed
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, presiding over the single-judge bench, issued the directive following a preliminary hearing in the afternoon. The court sought two specific reports from the DGP's office: one detailing the total number of cases and FIRs registered against Banerjee, and another specifically outlining the subjects of the eight FIRs already on record. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for 22 July, by which date the DGP's office must file the report.
What Banerjee's Counsel Argued
The counsel for Abhishek Banerjee approached the court seeking clarity on the precise count of cases registered against his client at different police stations across West Bengal. The counsel acknowledged awareness of eight FIRs but said the total number of cases remained unclear. 'We are aware that, so far, a total of eight FIRs have been registered against my client. However, I am not aware of the total number of cases going on against him. So, we want clarity in the matter. After the detailed police report, we will place our next line of arguments in the matter,' the counsel submitted before the court. The petition also contended that, given Banerjee's political standing, many of the cases were filed out of 'sheer vendetta.'
State Government's Counter
The counsel representing the West Bengal state government rejected the vendetta claim, arguing that all cases against the Diamond Harbour MP were grounded in specific, individual complaints and that no political motivation was involved. The state maintained that the legal proceedings against Banerjee were a routine exercise of law enforcement.
Context and Background
Abhishek Banerjee, widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in the Trinamool Congress and a nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been at the centre of multiple legal and political controversies in recent years. This comes amid a broader pattern of legal challenges involving senior TMC leaders, with opposition parties and the state government frequently trading accusations of political misuse of police machinery. The court's direction for a consolidated report is notable — it reflects judicial concern about ensuring transparency over the full scope of criminal proceedings against a sitting parliamentarian.
What Happens Next
The DGP's office must place the detailed report before Justice Bhattacharya's bench ahead of the 22 July hearing. Banerjee's legal team has indicated it will chart its next course of action only after reviewing the complete picture presented in that report. The case is being closely watched as it touches on the intersection of political accountability and law enforcement in West Bengal.
Point of View
The court has, in effect, forced transparency on a question that both sides have an interest in keeping murky — the ruling party to avoid the optics of a vendetta narrative, and the opposition to avoid scrutiny of the complaint process. The 'political vendetta' argument is one of the oldest defences in Indian politics and is rarely settled in court. What matters here is whether the consolidated report reveals a pattern — in the nature of complaints, the police stations involved, or the timing of FIR filings — that goes beyond coincidence. That is the thread the 22 July hearing will pull.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court direct regarding Abhishek Banerjee?
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, directed the West Bengal DGP's office on 15 July to submit a detailed report listing all cases and FIRs registered against TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. The court also sought a separate account of the subjects of the eight FIRs already on record.
How many FIRs have been registered against Abhishek Banerjee?
According to his own counsel's submission before the Calcutta High Court, at least eight FIRs have been registered against Abhishek Banerjee. The total number of cases across all police stations in West Bengal remains unclear, which is why the court has sought the DGP's consolidated report.
What is Abhishek Banerjee's counsel's argument in court?
Banerjee's counsel argued that, given his client's political stature as TMC general secretary, many of the cases were filed out of 'sheer vendetta' rather than on legitimate grounds. The counsel also stated that clarity on the total case count was needed before the defence could frame its next line of arguments.
What did the West Bengal government say in response?
The state government's counsel rejected the vendetta allegation, asserting that all cases against the Diamond Harbour MP were based on specific individual complaints. The state maintained that the legal proceedings were a standard exercise of law enforcement with no political motivation.
When is the next hearing in this case?
The next hearing before Justice Sougata Bhattacharya's bench at the Calcutta High Court is scheduled for 22 July. The West Bengal DGP's office is required to submit its detailed report to the court before that date.
