The Calcutta High Court, on Friday, has revoked the protection against police action for the West Bengal state assembly opposition party leader and Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari. This has presented itself as a major setback for the opposition party.
The blanket protection
Notably, in December 2022, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha's bench issued an order while putting an interim stay on a total of 26 FIRs brought against Adhikari. The order stated that he will be protected against any kind of police action in the future. Before lodging any FIR against him will require prior permission from the court.
Removal of protection
Justice Joy Sengupta's single bench has verbally issued an order on Friday, removing Suvendu Adhikari's protection. During the Court session, Justice Sengupta stated, “An interim order can’t be continued for an indefinite period,” according to a report of the Indian Express.
Justice Sengupta also dismissed 15 of the 26 FIRs, which were brought against Suvendu before he was granted protection against police actions in 2022. The bench has also issued a direction to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct further investigation in five of the FIRs in which the opposition leader has sought dismissal.
A senior BJP leader said, “Just before the elections (next year), this verdict will create trouble for a leader like Suvendu Adhikari. We fear that during campaign programmes, he may be framed or even arrested to stop his campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress,” according to a report of the IE.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh has welcomed the High Court's verdict. According to the IE report, he has stated, “It’s a big setback for Adhikari. We repeatedly said such blanket protection can’t continue for an indefinite period. The High Court has basically given a positive nod to our demand.”
The bench also informed the council of the BJP leader that if they have any objection against the verdict, they can submit their written argument by Monday.
