The Calcutta High Court has ordered Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee to provide a voice sample to investigators on July 15. The directive is part of a criminal case regarding remarks made during election campaigns. The court has also directed the police to ensure no harassment occurs during his appearance.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee to appear before a magistrate on July 15 to provide a voice sample. This requirement is part of an ongoing criminal investigation into statements Banerjee made during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign. The complainant in the case, a voter, alleged that the leader’s remarks regarding election results were intimidating and meant to provoke the public.
Legal Proceedings and Court Observations
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed Banerjee to comply with the investigation, noting that he must follow the previous order regarding the sample collection. During the hearing, the court dismissed a revision petition filed by Banerjee that had sought to challenge the lower court's approval for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to record his voice. Following the court’s firm stance, the legal team representing Banerjee withdrew the petition.
The judge expressed disapproval over the legal strategy, noting that the revision petition was filed before a different bench while a related writ petition was still active. The court characterized this move as an attempt to delay the investigation process.
Protection Measures During Investigation
In addition to the order for the voice sample, the High Court issued instructions to the police to provide protection for Banerjee when he appears before the authorities. The court specified that measures must be taken to prevent any form of harassment, including physical acts like egg-pelting. This decision follows reports of several Trinamool Congress leaders facing confrontations in West Bengal following recent election results.
This court order is part of a broader legal timeline. Earlier, on May 21, the High Court granted Banerjee interim protection from coercive action by the authorities, provided he cooperated with the probe. That protection remains in place until July 31. The primary focus for the parties involved remains the scheduled appearance on July 15 and the ongoing investigation by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department.