KOLKATA, June 23 -- The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed chief minister Suvendu Adhikari to respond within four weeks to an election petition filed by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee challenging his victory from Bhabanipur and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage of the counting hall as well as voting machines of all polling stations in the constituency.

Before Tuesday's proceedings started, justice Gaurang Kanth disclosed that his brother was the BJP's national spokesperson and enquired if the petitioner had concerns about his hearing the case

"My elder brother is a national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party. I will hear it only after full disclosure so that you don't have any issues later," justice Kanth ...