MP High Court Vacates Stay On Arrest Against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee In Defamation Case

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has vacated the interim stay that had protected Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee from the execution of an arrest warrant issued in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP leader Akash Vijayvargia, son of Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargia.

Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal dismissed Banerjee’s petition after no one appeared on his behalf when the matter was called for hearing on June 17. Observing that the petitioner was no longer interested in pursuing the case, the Court brought the proceedings to an end and withdrew the protection that had been granted in November last year.

In a brief order, the Court noted, “No one appeared for the petitioner even in the pass over round. No one has appeared on behalf of petitioner in the first round also. It seems that petitioner has lost interest in prosecuting this petition.” The Court therefore held that the petition “stands dismissed for want of prosecution.” It further directed that the stay granted on November 12, 2025 against the execution of the arrest warrant also stood vacated.

The Court additionally ordered the Registry to immediately communicate the order to the concerned trial court.

The case traces its origins to a political speech delivered by Banerjee in November 2020 during a public meeting in Kolkata. During the speech, he allegedly referred to Akash Vijayvargia, then a BJP MLA from Indore-III, as a “goon”. Taking exception to the remark, Vijayvargia filed a criminal defamation complaint before the MP/MLA Court in Bhopal in April 2021.

Proceedings in the complaint have been pending for several years. According to court records, Banerjee repeatedly failed to appear before the trial court despite summons and subsequent directions. As a result, the Judicial Magistrate First Class and Special Judge, MP/MLA Court, Bhopal, issued arrest warrants against him in connection with the case.

Challenging those warrants, Banerjee approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2025. On November 12, 2025, the High Court granted interim relief by staying the execution of the arrest warrant while his petition remained pending.

However, the matter appears to have stalled thereafter. A day before dismissing the petition, the High Court had granted Banerjee’s senior counsel one final opportunity to argue the case. The Court had specifically cautioned that if arguments were not advanced on the next date, the interim protection would not continue.

When the matter was taken up on Wednesday, no representation was made on behalf of the TMC leader. The Court consequently dismissed the petition and lifted the stay.

Case Title: Abhishek Banerjee v. Akash Vijayvargia

Date of Order: June 17, 2026

Bench: Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal