The Calcutta High Court has scheduled a Friday hearing for Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s petition challenging a lower court order that requires him to submit a voice sample for an ongoing police investigation.
Banerjee, who represents the Diamond Harbour constituency, is disputing a directive from a Bidhannagar subdivisional judicial magistrate court. That order instructed him to appear before a magistrate on July 8 to record his voice sample. The request stems from a police probe into alleged intimidatory remarks he made during the West Bengal assembly election campaign.
During the court proceedings, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya noted that Banerjee already holds interim protection from any coercive police action until July 31. The judge scheduled the hearing for Friday after Banerjee’s legal team requested an urgent review of the lower court’s directive.
State Opposes Appeal
Representing the state government, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar argued that the MP must comply with the order to provide his voice sample. Majumdar stated that the investigating officer requires the sample for the probe, pointing out that the High Court’s protection was contingent on Banerjee’s full cooperation with the investigation.
Election Campaign Allegations
The case originates from a First Information Report filed over comments Banerjee allegedly made at a public rally in April, ahead of the second phase of the state assembly elections held on April 29. The TMC leader is accused of making threatening remarks against leaders and workers of an opposing political party. Banerjee has petitioned the High Court to quash the case.
The High Court initially granted Banerjee relief from coercive action on May 21. Under the terms of that order, which extends to July 31, the Diamond Harbour MP is required to assist investigators and is barred from traveling outside the country without prior judicial authorization.
