Supreme Court Asks Calcutta High Court To Consider Abhishek Banerjee’s Plea Against “Media Trial”
The Court allowed TMC MP to mention the matter before the High Court immediately after it reopens on November 16, and asked for an early hearing on interim relief
The Supreme Court has asked the Calcutta High Court to consider Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s application for interim relief against media reporting on the investigations and cases against him.
Banerjee alleged that the spread of investigation-related information led to a media trial.
The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana ordered, "The High Court is opening on 16th November 2026, after the Durga Puja and Diwali holidays. The Petitioner shall be at liberty to bring to the notice of the bench, the immediate on opening of the court, who will request the High Court to consider the prayer for interim relief at the earliest."
Senior Advocate Soheb Alam appeared for Banerjee.
Banerjee approached the Supreme Court and claimed that the Calcutta High Court had refused to hear his plea urgently.
Alam submitted, "I am fighting a pernicious media trial...I filed my SLP, my writ petition, in the High Court at the end of September. Now, we have a hearing. Now, we try to impress the court with it. Now, at that stage, the court finds that there is... they don't have the determination; they don't have the roster. After that, three times I have mentioned, I have taken all remedies. It is not as though I am coming at the drop of a hat, so that is my problem. And this is a continuing violation of my rights. Every day, , there is some or the other, some or the other news article which is being put out."
He added, "In all the judgments your have said, that this perception of your innocence, this presumption of your innocence can't be taken out in a media trial...I am making several prayers including, takedown orders, etc. It is on a continuing basis it is going on around me."
Alam said all the relevant steps had already been taken before the High Court, and that he would make another request for urgent consideration there.
The Supreme Court thus permitted Banerjee to bring the matter to the Calcutta High Court’s notice immediately after it reopened on November 16.
Recently, the Calcutta High Court had directed the police not to take any coercive steps against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in three criminal cases against him till November 30, holding that custodial interrogation is not necessary. The Court directed the Diamond Harbour MP not to travel abroad without permission of the High Court.
Cause Title: Abhishek Banerjee v. Union of India and Ors. [SLP(Crl) No. 20945/2026]