Kolkata, 06 August (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Thursday heard a petition filed by Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee challenging multiple FIRs registered against him. During the proceedings, the West Bengal government referred to the case of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari from the time he served as Leader of the Opposition, arguing that the two matters were fundamentally different.

Appearing for the state, Additional Advocate General Bilwadal Bhattacharya submitted that Adhikari had sought either the quashing of the FIRs against him on the ground that they were politically motivated or the transfer of their investigation to the CBI or another independent agency. In contrast, Banerjee's petition contains no such prayer, he argued. Bhattacharya further questioned whether Banerjee, while drawing a parallel with Adhikari's case, was also seeking a CBI probe into the cases against him.

The state maintained that the circumstances surrounding the two cases were entirely different and, therefore, they could not be treated on the same footing.

Banerjee approached the High Court after multiple FIRs were registered against him at different police stations following the change of government in West Bengal. The matter is being heard by the single-judge Bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharyya.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Advocate Ayan Bhattacharya appeared on behalf of Banerjee and informed the court that around 16 FIRs had been lodged against their client so far.

During the previous hearing, Banerjee's counsel had argued that the High Court had granted relief to Suvendu Adhikari while he was the Leader of the Opposition by directing that no fresh FIR be registered against him without informing the court. On that basis, the petitioner sought similar protection for Banerjee.

The High Court on Thursday clarified that its interim protection against any coercive action in three cases registered against Banerjee would continue. Justice Sougata Bhattacharyya observed that the hearing was almost complete and that arguments remained only on a few limited issues.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 11.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh