Kolkata, Sept. 7 -- "Enough is enough," the Calcutta High Court on Monday warned that it could pass a blanket order preventing registration of any further FIR against Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee without the court's leave, while granting the Diamond Harbour MP protection from coercive action till November 30.
The warning came as the court heard Banerjee's plea against an FIR stemming from allegations involving clinical practice and fake medicines relating to Sebaashray camps. The court questioned the alleged connection between Banerjee and the accusations, observing: "I have personally seen three complaints. Nothing is connected to the petitioner."
The court said the police could continue investigating and file a chargesheet, but made clear that it was not satisfied with the complaint and did not consider custodial interrogation necessary at this stage. "You investigate and file your chargesheet. Custodial interrogation is not required," it said.
The court also questioned the timing and provenance of the complaints. When told the complainant was a whistleblower, it asked: "Why whistle was not blown one year back?" It noted that the complainant had twice lost elections to Banerjee.
Banerjee's counsel, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, alleged that subsequent complaints were being used to circumvent earlier interim protection granted by the court. He urged that police be required to obtain the court's leave before registering any fresh FIR.
The court said investigations were still at a nascent stage and would reveal the truth. It directed Banerjee, who is abroad, to cooperate with the probe after his return.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.