Pictures Bibhash Lodh (file Pictures), BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The Calcutta High Court has directed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee to file an affidavit regarding the contempt of court case filed against them concerning the party's 'Martyrs' Day Rally'. Meanwhile, the High Court has extended the interim protection granted to Abhishek Banerjee in the 'Bengal Signature' case.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court directed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee to file an affidavit in the pending contempt of court case against them. Earlier, on June 19, the division bench comprising Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy had issued contempt notices to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. The matter relates to the Trinamool Congress's 'Martyrs' Day Rally' held in central Kolkata on July 21, 2025. It is alleged that the rally violated a 2018 Calcutta High Court order that prohibited any political party from blocking or obstructing the city's major and busy road intersections. Next hearing in August.
The matter came up for an initial hearing on Friday before the same division bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy. During the proceedings, the court directed Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, and all parties involved in the case to file their affidavits before the next hearing. The next hearing is scheduled for August.
Violation of High Court's 2018 Order
It is worth noting that in 2018, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court—comprising Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee—had ordered that no political rally held in the city should block or obstruct any major or busy intersection. The bench had also directed that, during any rally or demonstration, a portion of the road must always be kept open for the movement of pedestrians and vehicles. TMC despite the ban
The then-bench had also ordered that the movement of ambulances and other emergency services must not be obstructed under any circumstances. Arrangements should also be made to divert traffic to other roads if necessary. In 2018, the Calcutta High Court had directed the police to inform the public in advance—through the media—about any traffic diversions. The court had further stated that if any vandalism, commotion, or violence occurred during a political meeting or rally, action would be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law. Recently, another petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court alleging that the 2018 High Court order was completely violated during the Trinamool Congress's 'Martyrs' Day' rally on July 21 last year. The petition claimed that the ruling party organized the rally by completely blocking a crucial junction at Esplanade in central Kolkata, causing immense inconvenience to the public.