Kolkata, 23 July (H.S.): The Calcutta High Court on Thursday declined to grant Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee blanket protection in multiple criminal cases registered against him across West Bengal. Justice Sougata Bhattacharyya, after hearing the matter, fixed the next hearing for July 30.

Appearing for Banerjee, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that eight FIRs had been lodged against his client at police stations including Bhawanipur, Siliguri, Nakashipara and Bishnupur as part of a campaign of political vendetta. He submitted that since Banerjee had already received protection in one earlier case, similar relief should be extended to all the pending cases.

During the hearing, Sibal also referred to relief granted in the past to Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. However, the state's counsel argued that the earlier order in Adhikari's case was only an interim protection and not a blanket shield from all future cases. The court also observed that references to other political leaders were not relevant to the present matter.

Rejecting the plea for a common protective order covering all cases, Justice Bhattacharyya observed that each FIR is based on separate allegations and distinct facts, making it inappropriate to grant a blanket safeguard. The court noted that such protection could interfere with the course of investigation.

The matter has been adjourned until July 30. The court, however, observed that if any coercive action is initiated against Banerjee before the next hearing, the matter may be brought immediately to its notice. No comprehensive interim protection has been granted at this stage.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey