Calcutta HC grants Abhishek Banerjee interim protection in 8 of 16 FIRs
Synopsis
Calcutta High Court has now shielded Abhishek Banerjee from arrest in 8 of 16 FIRs — a number that keeps climbing as complainants, emboldened by West Bengal's new BJP government, file cases linked to his health camp initiative. With 8 more FIRs still unresolved and a hearing set for 25 August, the legal battle is far from over.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 21 August granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from arrest in 3 more FIRs .
Banerjee now has court protection in 8 of 16 total FIRs registered against him across West Bengal.
The three new FIRs relate to alleged irregularities at the Sebashray free health camp run during the previous TMC regime.
Protection was granted by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya till 11 September ; next hearing on 7 September .
The remaining 8 FIRs will be heard on 25 August .
Banerjee has alleged political vendetta by the new BJP government; complainants say they were blocked from filing cases under the previous regime.
A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 21 August granted interim protection from coercive police action — including arrest — to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee in three additional FIRs. With this order, Banerjee now has court protection in eight of the 16 FIRs registered against him at various police stations across West Bengal.
What the Court Ordered
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya of the Calcutta High Court granted the interim protection till 11 September, with the next hearing in the three cases scheduled for 7 September. Two of the three FIRs were registered at Bishnupur Police Station and one at Rabindra Nagar Police Station, both falling under the jurisdiction of Diamond Harbour Police District in South 24 Parganas district.
Nature of the Cases
All three FIRs are linked to alleged mass irregularities at the Sebashray free health camp, which Banerjee had run during the previous TMC government's tenure in the state. The complainants have accused the Diamond Harbour MP of misusing his authority while his party was in power.
Notably, complainants have alleged that they were prevented from filing police complaints during the previous TMC regime and are only now able to do so following the change of government in West Bengal — resulting in the accumulation of FIRs against Banerjee.
Banerjee's Counter-Claim
Banerjee, who is also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has alleged that the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state has specifically targeted him out of political vendetta since the recently concluded Assembly elections, and that the FIRs are baseless.
What Remains Pending
The remaining eight FIRs — in which Banerjee is yet to secure interim protection — are scheduled to be heard on 25 August. The legal proceedings mark a significant post-election flashpoint in West Bengal, where the transition of power has triggered a wave of political cases on multiple sides. How the court rules on the outstanding eight FIRs will be closely watched as a test of judicial balance in a politically charged environment.
Point of View
The court process must be allowed to run its course without political interference from either side. If they are retaliatory, the judiciary's interim orders are doing exactly what they should. The 25 August hearing on the remaining eight FIRs will be the next real signal of which way this tips.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court grant Abhishek Banerjee interim protection?
The Calcutta High Court granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from arrest to prevent coercive police action while the FIRs against him are under judicial consideration. The court has scheduled further hearings to examine the cases on their merits.
How many FIRs does Abhishek Banerjee face in total?
Abhishek Banerjee faces a total of 16 FIRs registered at various police stations across West Bengal. As of 21 August, he has interim court protection in 8 of these cases; the remaining 8 are scheduled to be heard on 25 August.
What are the FIRs against Abhishek Banerjee about?
The FIRs are linked to alleged mass irregularities at the Sebashray free health camp run by Banerjee during the previous TMC government's tenure in West Bengal. Complainants allege he misused his authority as a ruling-party leader during that period.
What is Abhishek Banerjee's response to the FIRs?
Banerjee has alleged that the new BJP government in West Bengal is targeting him out of political vendetta following the state Assembly election results. He has described the FIRs as baseless and politically motivated.
When is the next hearing in Abhishek Banerjee's cases?
The next hearing for the three cases in which protection was granted on 21 August is scheduled for 7 September, with protection extended till 11 September. The remaining eight FIRs will come up before the court on 25 August.
