Trinamool Congress moves Calcutta HC against egg attacks on leaders
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress has taken the post-election violence in West Bengal to the Calcutta High Court, filing a PIL that names five of its own MPs and MLAs as targets of organised egg attacks. The petition also challenges the way police are handling arrested TMC leaders — a dimension that moves this beyond a law-and-order complaint into a question of custodial dignity and judicial oversight.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress filed a PIL in the Calcutta High Court on 22 June seeking intervention against egg attacks on its leaders and workers.
The petition is before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty ; hearing expected on Tuesday .
Five leaders named as attack targets: MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra ; MPs Abhishek Banerjee , Kalyan Banerjee , and Derek O'Brien .
TMC also challenged police practice of making arrested leaders walk in ropes and innerwear through public streets.
Attacks reportedly carried out by BJP supporters and locals as TMC leaders were escorted to police stations or courts post-arrest.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday, 22 June filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court, seeking urgent judicial intervention to halt what the party described as organised attacks — including egg-throwing — on its leaders, Members of Parliament, and workers across West Bengal. The petition was filed before the division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, with lawyer Prabhanya Banerjee representing the party and requesting an expedited hearing. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on Tuesday.
Key Allegations in the PIL
The PIL names five senior TMC functionaries as targets of alleged planned attacks: MLAs Kunal Ghosh (Beleghata) and Madan Mitra (Kamarhati), and MPs Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Kalyan Banerjee (Sreerampur), and Derek O'Brien. The party further alleged that workers are being assaulted and party offices demolished in multiple districts.
The petition also raised objections to the manner in which police have been handling arrested TMC leaders — specifically, making them walk through streets with ropes tied around their waists and in innerwear, a practice the party characterised as humiliating and unlawful.
Incidents Cited in the Petition
The PIL documents a series of post-election incidents. Abhishek Banerjee, TMC's General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP, was reportedly attacked while visiting Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district. Kalyan Banerjee was attacked in the Chanditala area of Hooghly district.
In a separate incident, MLA Kunal Ghosh was targeted by egg-throwers outside former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, south Kolkata. Madan Mitra was similarly attacked in his Kamarhati constituency in North 24 Parganas, where his vehicle was also allegedly vandalised. All these incidents have been formally recorded in the PIL.
Context: Arrests and Street Protests
The incidents come amid a wave of arrests of TMC leaders across West Bengal following the change of government. According to the PIL, supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — along with activists and some local residents — have thrown eggs at arrested TMC leaders as they were escorted to police stations or courts.
Police have responded by placing helmets on the heads of arrested TMC leaders, reportedly as a protective measure. TMC, however, contends that the broader pattern of treatment — from the manner of arrest to exposure to public hostility — warrants High Court scrutiny.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court's division bench is expected to take up the petition on Tuesday. If the court admits the PIL and issues directions, it could set a precedent for how law enforcement handles the custody and transit of arrested political figures during periods of post-election tension. The outcome will be closely watched by both the ruling dispensation and opposition parties in the state.
Point of View
TMC is framing a law-and-order narrative as a constitutional grievance — a calculated move to shift the battleground from the street to the courtroom. What the petition does not address is why the arrests are happening in the first place; the party's silence on the underlying charges against its leaders is a conspicuous gap. If the High Court admits the petition and issues directions on custodial treatment, it could constrain police conduct statewide — a significant outcome that extends well beyond egg-throwing.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Trinamool Congress PIL filed in the Calcutta High Court?
Trinamool Congress filed a Public Interest Litigation on 22 June in the Calcutta High Court, seeking judicial intervention to stop attacks — including egg-throwing — on its leaders and workers across West Bengal. The petition also challenges the manner in which police are handling arrested TMC leaders.
Which TMC leaders have been named as attack victims in the PIL?
The PIL names five leaders: MLAs Kunal Ghosh (Beleghata) and Madan Mitra (Kamarhati), and MPs Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Kalyan Banerjee (Sreerampur), and Derek O'Brien. Each was reportedly targeted in separate incidents across different districts of West Bengal.
Who is allegedly behind the egg attacks on TMC leaders?
According to the PIL, supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with activists and some local residents, have thrown eggs at TMC leaders as they were being taken to police stations or courts following arrests.
What is TMC's objection to the way arrested leaders are being treated?
TMC has specifically objected to police making arrested leaders walk through public streets with ropes tied around their waists and in innerwear. The party characterises this as humiliating and has asked the High Court to intervene.
When will the Calcutta High Court hear the PIL?
The matter is expected to be heard on Tuesday before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty. Lawyer Prabhanya Banerjee, who filed the case, has requested an urgent hearing.
