Calcutta High Court says custodial interrogation of Abhishek Banerjee not required in cases registered against him after May 4
The Calcutta High Court has extended interim protection for Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, ruling that custodial interrogation is unnecessary for 16 cases filed against him after the May 4 election results. While the court declined to quash the FIRs, it noted that the change in political power in West Bengal has altered the legal landscape and cautioned against coercive police actions.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights the intersection of judicial oversight and political transitions, setting a precedent for how courts handle potentially politically motivated litigation following shifts in state governance.
Calcutta High Court on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) extended the interim protection of Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee till August 31 and said that his custodial interrogation is not required in the 16 cases registered after May 4, the day when the result of the Assembly election was out.
Justice Saugata Bhhattacharyya was hearing a plea by Mr. Banerjee claiming that a spate of politically motivated FIRs was registered against him shortly after the BJP government came to power on May 4. The court also verbally observed that the political scenario has changed in West Bengal since a different political party is in power in West Bengal instead of the Trinamool Congress.
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