Calcutta HC denies Abhishek Banerjee permission to go abroad for treatment
Banerjee’s lawyers told the court that he had been going to the USA for ten years for his treatment and hence should be allowed to travel
On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court denied permission to Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment. The court directed Banerjee to visit the ophthalmology department at the state-run SSKM hospital. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya made the decision, noting that only specialists could determine if Banerjee could not receive treatment in India.
Banerjee's lawyers argued that he had been undergoing treatment in the USA for ten years, but the state's lawyers opposed the petition, stating that Banerjee's absence could impact ongoing investigations, including a case where he is accused of making provocative remarks during campaign speeches. The FIR against Banerjee was registered on May 15 under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and two sections of the Representation of the People Act, with two charges being non-bailable.
The case was later taken over by the state Criminal Investigation Department, which questioned Banerjee on June 16 for approximately six-and-a-half hours. Banerjee's lawyer withdrew the petition after the court made strong observations on July 10, and the court extended interim protection from coercive police action until September 30, contingent upon Banerjee's cooperation with investigators.
Banerjee provided his voice sample on July 15, which Justice Bhattacharyya treated as a sign of cooperation, prolonging the interim relief.
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