While the court dismissed 15 cases filed against Adhikari, it directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations in five other FIRs that the BJP leader had sought to be quashed. (File)
In a setback for Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, the Calcutta High Court on Friday withdrew the blanket protection that had prevented the police from taking coercive action against him without court permission.
The single-judge bench of Justice Joy Sengupta observed Friday that such protection, granted earlier as an interim order, cannot remain in force indefinitely and has to come to an end. “An interim order can’t be continued for an indefinite period,” Justice Sengupta said.
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While the court dismissed 15 cases filed against Adhikari, it directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations in five other FIRs that the BJP leader had sought to be quashed.
Almost three years ago, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the court had ruled that no new FIRs could be filed against him without the court’s prior approval. On December 8, 2022, Justice Mantha had stayed 26 FIRs lodged against Adhikari and directed that future complaints would also require the court’s permission.
A senior BJP leader told The Indian Express, “Just before the elections (next year), this verdict will create trouble for a leader like Suvendu Adhikari. We fear that during campaign programmes, he may be framed or even arrested to stop his campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress.”
Reacting to the verdict, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “It’s a big setback for Adhikari. We repeatedly said such blanket protection can’t continue for an indefinite period. The High Court has basically given a positive nod to our demand.”
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
