Kolkata, 19 August (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing on a petition filed by Trinamool Congress national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee challenging the freezing of his private bank account. Justice Krishna Rao adjourned the matter until Thursday and directed the concerned bank to submit a report.

Abhishek's counsel, Ayan Bhattacharya, had mentioned the matter before Justice Rao on Monday, seeking an urgent hearing. He told the court that Abhishek was required to travel abroad soon for medical treatment and that his private bank account had been frozen in the meantime. The lawyer claimed that the bank had not provided any reason for freezing the account.

The counsel also questioned how the account could be frozen without following the procedure prescribed under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). According to him, the police are required to approach the competent magistrate before freezing a bank account under the provision. He claimed that the prescribed procedure had not been followed in Abhishek's case.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Rao had allowed the petition to be filed. The court also sought to know whether any investigation was underway against Abhishek. His counsel submitted that Abhishek was cooperating with the investigation in accordance with the court's directions and that the investigation had no connection with the freezing of his bank account.

The court subsequently directed that notices be issued to the other parties concerned in the matter.

The Supreme Court had on August 10 permitted Abhishek to travel abroad for medical treatment for three weeks, directing that there should be no obstruction to his foreign travel. Earlier, Abhishek had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to travel abroad, but his plea was rejected. He subsequently moved the Supreme Court late on August 7.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh