Chaotic scenes erupted within the corridors of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday afternoon as former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was met with aggressive sloganeering from a group of lawyers following a high-stakes legal hearing.
The group reportedly targeted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader with derogatory “thief” chants as she attempted to exit the premises, highlighting the deeply polarized atmosphere currently surrounding the state’s legal and political landscape.
The incident unfolded immediately after a court session regarding alleged post-poll violence following the 2026 assembly elections. Banerjee, who was accompanied by former minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and TMC advocate Kalyan Banerjee, found her path obstructed by the shouting demonstrators.
Kalyan Banerjee later addressed the media, leveling sharp accusations against the disruptive group. He alleged that the lawyers involved were acting under the direct influence of the BJP, claiming their actions were a coordinated effort to create a hostile environment. He further noted that the intensity of the protest made it difficult for the party’s legal team to ensure the former Chief Minister’s safe passage out of the building.
“It is deeply inappropriate to use the hallowed halls of the High Court as a platform for public slander,” Kalyan Banerjee stated, adding that the incident is reflective of the broader challenges and hostility TMC workers are currently facing throughout Bengal.
The former Chief Minister was in court to attend a hearing for a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Shirshanya Bandyopadhyay. The litigation contends that there have been widespread and systematic attacks on TMC affiliates, members, and offices in the wake of the 2026 assembly polls.
The case was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen. The proceedings aim to address the allegations of violence that have dominated the political discourse in the state since the conclusion of the elections.
While the court deliberates on the merits of the PIL, the afternoon’s events have raised concerns regarding security and decorum within the judiciary’s highest seat in the state. No official statements have been released by the court administration regarding the conduct of the lawyers involved in the sloganeering.
