The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee and general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to submit written explanations in response to a contempt petition accusing the party of blocking key roads during its 2025 Martyrs’ Day rally.
Four-Week Deadline For Affidavits
A division bench consisting of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray ordered the two TMC leaders to file their affidavits within four weeks to present their position on the allegations.
Following the submission of these statements, the petitioner will have two weeks to file a reply. The court scheduled the next hearing in the matter for August 17.
Allegations Of Road Blockages
The legal action stems from a contempt petition filed on June 19 by lawyer Srikanta Dutta. The petition claims that the ruling party violated a previous court order during its July 21, 2025, Martyrs’ Day rally.
According to the petitioner, the rally led to a complete blockage of major arterial roads in the Esplanade area, located in the heart of Kolkata. The bench had previously ordered that formal notices of the contempt plea be served to both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
Guidelines Set By 2018 Order
The contempt petition points to a May 2018 directive issued by a division bench that included then Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee.
That ruling established that public gatherings and rallies on main thoroughfares must not completely obstruct traffic. The 2018 order specifically instructed organizers to maintain open passage on such roads to ensure the uninterrupted movement of pedestrians and emergency services.
