Calcutta HC gives interim protection to Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim protection to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee against coercive action till July 31.

The single-judge bench also rejected Banerjee's plea for scrapping the FIR filed against him last week.

"The court directs the concerned police authority not to take any coercive step against the petitioner till July 31, 2026, or until further order, whichever is earlier," the high court order said.


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'Petitioner must cooperate'
"However, the petitioner has to cooperate with the investigation and comply with notices, if issued to the petitioner. Notices shall be issued giving at least 48 hours' time to the petitioner," it said.

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"It is submitted that on receipt of the complaint, preliminary enquiry was made and finding certain material, the aforesaid criminal prosecution was initiated against the petitioner. Therefore, an investigating agency is required to be permitted to make thorough investigation in order to unearth the truth," the court said.