A single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 12 November 2026, expressed deep anguish over reported derogatory comments made by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee, who allegedly accused a section of the judiciary of being “biased.” The remarks have triggered contempt of court proceedings, with the state government demanding criminal action against the MP.

Background: The Security Petition Hearing

The occasion was the final hearing of a petition filed by Abhishek Banerjee — also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — seeking restoration of his “Z-Plus” security cover. The matter was being heard before Justice Krishna Rao, sitting as a single-judge vacation bench.

During the proceedings, the state government’s counsel and Additional Advocate General Billawdal Bhattacharya drew the court’s attention to a recent social media post attributed to the Diamond Harbour MP, in which Banerjee reportedly accused the Kolkata Police of maintaining constant surveillance around his residence and snooping on him.

Contempt Call: What the State Argued

Bhattacharya contended that the social media message contained remarks that directly challenged the country’s judicial system and undermined the dignity of the courts. He urged the bench to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the MP.

“I am submitting an interview of the plaintiff to the court. That interview amounts to contempt of court. He has insulted the judges, even mentioned their names. The court cannot be fooled like this. This is contempt of court. Criminal action should be taken against him,” Bhattacharya told the court.

The Defence’s Position

Abhishek Banerjee’s counsel responded by contextualising the remarks, arguing that his client’s comments arose from frustration over petitions filed by him remaining pending before the court for several months without resolution. The defence appeared to position the remarks as an expression of exasperation rather than wilful contempt.

Justice Rao’s Sharp Rejoinder

The explanation, however, did not satisfy Justice Rao, who responded in unambiguous terms. In a strikingly direct order, the judge asked Banerjee’s lawyer to submit a complete list specifying which judges are aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and which with the Trinamool Congress — essentially challenging the MP to substantiate his allegations in open court.

“Ask your client which judges are with the BJP and which are not! He thinks he is very intelligent. Ask him to give a list; I will look into it,” Justice Rao said, according to reports from the courtroom.

Notably, this episode comes amid a broader climate of tension between political figures and courts in West Bengal, where high-profile cases involving the ruling TMC have frequently spilled into judicial forums. The court’s unusually sharp response signals that it views the MP’s remarks as a direct affront to judicial independence — a threshold courts have historically been reluctant to cross without consequence.

What Happens Next

The court’s direction to submit a list of allegedly partisan judges sets up a potentially explosive next hearing. If Abhishek Banerjee or his counsel cannot substantiate the claims, the contempt proceedings are likely to escalate. Legal observers note that contempt of court cases against sitting MPs are rare but not unprecedented, and a formal notice, if issued, would significantly raise the political stakes for both Banerjee and the TMC ahead of assembly elections in the state.