TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Moves Calcutta High Court to Quash Multiple FIRs Lodged After 2026 Assembly Polls
Trinamool Leader Alleges Political Vendetta, Challenges Series of Criminal Cases as Calcutta High Court Grants Interim Protection
Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the quashing of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against him following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The petitions allege that the criminal cases are politically motivated and constitute an abuse of the legal process aimed at targeting opposition leaders after the change in government in the State.
The petitions were filed before the Calcutta High Court after several FIRs were lodged at different police stations over speeches made by Banerjee during the Assembly election campaign and other alleged incidents arising in the aftermath of the polls. Banerjee has contended that the cases are interconnected and stem from the same set of political events, making multiple prosecutions legally unsustainable.
In his plea, Banerjee argued that the FIRs are not genuine criminal proceedings but are part of a coordinated campaign of “political persecution.” According to the petition, the object behind registering multiple cases is to subject him to repeated investigations, compel his appearance before different police authorities and create unnecessary legal harassment rather than to investigate any cognizable offence.
The High Court took note of the submissions and granted interim protection to Banerjee by directing that no coercive action be taken against him until the next date of hearing. The interim relief shields the TMC leader from arrest or other coercive measures while the Court examines the legality of the multiple FIRs.
The petitions specifically invoke the High Court’s inherent powers to prevent abuse of the criminal justice system. Banerjee has argued that when several FIRs arise from substantially the same allegations or political speeches, the continuation of parallel criminal proceedings violates settled legal principles and infringes his constitutional rights.
The legal challenge comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions in West Bengal following the 2026 Assembly elections. Since the conclusion of the polls, several leaders from rival political parties have faced criminal complaints relating to election speeches, alleged post-poll violence and other campaign-related incidents, resulting in multiple legal battles before the Calcutta High Court.
Earlier, Banerjee had separately approached the High Court seeking quashing of an FIR alleging inflammatory campaign speeches. He has also been involved in other proceedings concerning a CID investigation, including litigation over the collection of his voice sample. These parallel cases have further intensified the legal contest between the TMC leader and investigating agencies.
Legal experts note that the High Court will now examine whether the multiple FIRs disclose distinct offences warranting separate investigations or whether they constitute repetitive proceedings arising from the same cause of action. The Court may also consider whether the criminal law has been invoked for legitimate investigative purposes or has been used in a manner that amounts to abuse of process.
The matter is expected to have wider political and legal significance, particularly in defining the scope of judicial protection against multiple criminal proceedings arising out of election-related speeches and political activities. The Calcutta High Court’s eventual ruling could provide important guidance on balancing investigative powers with constitutional protections against arbitrary prosecution.
