The Calcutta High Court has dismissed Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's request to travel abroad for eye treatment. The decision follows his refusal to appear before a court-mandated medical board at SSKM Hospital, which was a required step. This ruling aligns with a Supreme Court directive to resolve the matter within one week, given the ongoing legal investigations.
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, which sought permission to travel abroad for specialized eye treatment. The decision was made after his legal representatives informed the court that he would not appear before a medical board at Kolkata’s state-run SSKM Hospital.
The court had previously established this medical board to evaluate whether the requested eye treatment was truly unavailable within India. This assessment was a key condition set by the High Court to balance the applicant's request with the requirements of the ongoing criminal investigations he is currently involved in. By declining the medical examination, the legal grounds for the travel request were not met to the court's satisfaction.
This development follows a recent directive from the Supreme Court, which instructed the Calcutta High Court to finalize its decision on the travel plea within one week. With the refusal to cooperate with the court-ordered medical assessment, the High Court proceeded to reject the application.
While this specific travel request has been denied, it is noted that Mr. Banerjee continues to hold interim protection from coercive action in relation to the ongoing investigations against him. This protection remains in effect until October 6, 2026. The legal proceedings regarding the various investigations remain ongoing, and the court's recent ruling focuses specifically on the current travel application and the requirement for an independent medical opinion.