India, July 20 -- The Calcutta high court on Monday refused permission to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment even as it granted him interim protection from coercive police action in the election speech case until September 30.

A bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed a check-up at the state-run SSKM Medical College and Hospital. The court said the petition seeking foreign travel might be considered only if a medical board at SSKM Hospital found that treatment was not possible in Kolkata. The matter will be heard again next month.

Banerjee's lawyers told the court that he had been going to the US for 10 years for his treatment and should be allowed to travel.

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