The Calcutta High Court has granted interim protection to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in three criminal cases, observing that there is currently no need for his custodial interrogation. The court has directed the police not to take any coercive action against him in connection with the three FIRs until November 30, 2026.
A bench headed by Justice Sougat Bhattacharyya said Banerjee must cooperate with the investigation and comply with notices issued by the police. If he is required to appear for questioning or any other investigative procedure, he must be given at least 48 hours’ notice. The court also said that if Banerjee does not cooperate with the investigation, the state police may approach the court.
The order relates specifically to three FIRs mentioned in Banerjee’s petition: FIR No. 121 of May 27, 2026, registered at Bhabanipur police station; FIR No. 140 of June 16, 2026, registered at Kalikata Ashuti police station; and FIR No. 668 of 2026, registered at Bishnupur police station. The court clarified that the present order is limited to these three cases.
Banerjee had challenged several FIRs in his petition, alleging that the cases registered against him were politically motivated. During the hearing, his counsel sought relief in the cases, while the state government opposed the plea and argued that the investigation should continue.
The state argued that where an FIR discloses a cognisable offence, criminal proceedings cannot be terminated at the preliminary stage. The prosecution also submitted that the investigating agency should be given an opportunity to conduct a complete investigation. The court, however, found custodial interrogation unnecessary at the present stage and granted Banerjee interim protection.
The court has not quashed the three FIRs. The investigations will therefore continue. Banerjee’s protection is subject to his cooperation with the investigation, while the police have also been directed to submit a report on the progress of the investigations.
The court directed the police to file progress reports in all three cases. The matter will next be heard on November 23. The interim protection will remain in force until November 30 or until further orders of the court, whichever is earlier.
During the proceedings, it also emerged that Banerjee had sought relief in a total of 16 FIRs. The court said that although the challenge to multiple FIRs in a single petition is not, by itself, impermissible, the present order would remain confined to the three FIRs for which complete details were available in the petition.
The court also clarified the position regarding Banerjee’s travel abroad. It said the order would not affect the Supreme Court’s permission allowing him to travel abroad for three weeks for medical treatment. However, the requirement of obtaining permission from the High Court for foreign travel in general would continue to apply.
Banerjee had previously received interim relief in other FIRs. On August 21, the Calcutta High Court granted him interim protection in three other cases, two of which were related to Sebashray health camps. At that time, the court had also considered the issue of protection where multiple FIRs are registered against the same person.
With Tuesday’s order, Banerjee will not face immediate arrest or other coercive police action in the three cases covered by the order until November 30. He will, however, remain required to participate in the investigation and respond to police notices. The relief is therefore interim protection and does not exempt him from the ongoing investigations.
The Calcutta High Court’s order means that the investigations into the three FIRs will continue, while no coercive action can be taken against Banerjee in those cases until November 30 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The court will consider the investigation progress reports and further submissions when the matter is taken up next. No final decision has been taken on the cases.
