TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Moves Calcutta High Court To Quash Multiple FIRs Lodged Post-2026 Assembly Polls

The petition is likely to come up for hearing before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya this week.

The plea states that consequent upon a change in the political dispensation in the State, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the Government, there has been a “sudden and unprecedented escalation of criminal proceedings, complaints and coercive actions” directed against AITC functionaries, explicitly targeting him.

He argues that these successive criminal proceedings against him within an exceptionally short period reveal a “concerted and systematic campaign of political persecution”.

“…stale, dormant and long-forgotten allegations have been resurrected solely with a view to target the Petitioner on account of his political identity and his position as one of the foremost leaders of the opposition,” his plea filed through Advocate Agnish Basu states.

It adds the object and effect of such actions appear to be not merely investigation into alleged offences, but to subject Banerjee to undue hardship, reputational damage and political inconvenience.

Stressing that the State machinery cannot be permitted to be converted into an instrument of political retribution, his plea submits

“The misuse of police powers to satisfy political objectives or to settle political scores constitutes an abuse of authority and is wholly contrary to the constitutional mandate of fairness, equality and non-arbitrariness. The police authorities are required to protect the rights of all citizens, including political opponents of the ruling establishment, and cannot selectively act against individuals on account of their political identity or affiliations”.

The petition refers to several complaints lodged across multiple jurisdictional police stations, including Bidhannagar, Bhowanipore, Siliguri, Kalitala Ashuti, Bishnupur, Diamond Harbour, and Nakashipara.

The petition points out that the complaints refer to alleged occurrences that allegedly occurred over periods ranging from several months to as many as 5 to 10 years prior to the registration of the cases.

Banerjee highlights that while none of the complainants furnished any explanation whatsoever for the extraordinary delay in approaching the police authorities, the respondent authorities exhibited “extraordinary haste” and “remarkable promptitude” in registering the FIRs.

Banerjee argues that the actions of the executive strike at the foundation of the rule of law and directly infringe upon his fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The key cases FIRs to in Banerjee’s petition are:

• Bidhannagar Cyber PS Case (May 15, 2026): The petition states that this FIR regarding his election campaign speeches has been transferred mechanically to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) despite an absence of contemporaneous public disorder or incitement.

• Bhowanipore PS Case (May 27, 2026): FIR lodged over a social media post on 'X', which the complainant alleged negatively portrayed a specific community. Banerjee argues that mere campaign rhetoric or expressions addressed to party cadres cannot be criminalized by selective extraction of words without context.

• Kalitala Ashuti PS Case (June 16, 2026): Banerjee has been implicated as Accused No. 1 over allegations of an organized illegal soil excavation at "MLA Lake" spanning from 2021 to 2025. The petition contends that the complaint is entirely founded upon sweeping, bald assertions without any scientific assessment, survey report, or identification of an individual overt act.

• Bishnupur PS Case (June 16, 2026): Resurrecting allegations of administrative irregularities regarding the ex-gratia financial compensation sanctioned after Cyclone Amphan in May 2020. Banerjee underlines that a 6-year delay highlights the collateral purpose behind the complaint, where he was arrayed merely because his name appeared under a "Recommended by" column in official administrative datasheets.

• Subsequent Complaints (June 23 and July 1, 2026): Lodged by political adversaries targeting public welfare initiatives, namely the ‘Shraddhargyo’ elderly financial assistance framework and the ‘Sebaashray’ healthcare camps, seeking extensive fishing and roving inquiries into accounting and regulatory compliances.

Referring to Supreme Court judgment in State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal, the petition states that criminal proceedings maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance cannot be permitted to continue and hence, must be quashed.

Case - Abhishek Banerjee -Versus- State of West Bengal & Ors.