Madhya Pradesh High Court Lifts Stay On Arrest Warrant Against TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee In BJP Leader's Defamation Case

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday (June 17) lifted an interim stay on execution of arrest warrants issued by the trial court against TMC National General Secretary and Member of Parliament  Abhishek Banerjee in a defamation case, after no one appeared on his behalf in the matter. [2026 LiveLaw (MP) 215]

Banerjee had moved a plea challenging arrest warrants issued by the trial court in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Akash Vijayvargia. On November 12, 2025 the high court had in an interim order stayed the execution of the arrest warrant issued by the MP/MLA Special Judge, Bhopal.

The high court has also now dismissed Banerjee's plea after noting that petitioner seemed to have lost interest in prosecuting his plea. 

Justice Pramod Kumar Agrawal in his order said:

"No one appeared for the petitioner even in the pass over round. No one has appeared on behalf of petitioner in the first round also. It seems that petitioner has lost interest in prosecuting this petition. 

Accordingly, present MCRC stands dismissed for want of prosecution. This Court by order dated 12.11.2025 has stayed the proceedings for execution of arrest warrant issued in Case No.SC PPM/2/2024 by J.M.F.C. and Special Judge, MP/MLA, Bhopal.

Accordingly, the stay granted in favour of the petitioner vide order dated 12.11.2025 is also vacated. Registry is directed to sent a copy of this order to the Trial Court concerned immediately"

As per reports, Vijavargia in his defamation suit alleged that Banerjee had called the former a “goon” while addressing a rally in Kolkata in November 2020.

The matter before the high court was adjourned from time to time.

On May 8 the court had said, "Upon the request of learned counsel for the applicant, list the matter on 16.06.2026 at 2:30 p.m. Interim relief (if any) shall continue till the next date of hearing. If on the next date of hearing, counsel for the applicant will not argue the matter, then, this Court shall considered the application on merits and I.R. will not be continued". 

Thereafter on June 16 the court in its order noted that the senior counsel appearing for petitioner had prayed for one day's time to argue the matter.

It thereafter said, "On earlier occasion i.e. 08.05.2026, this Court had ordered that if on the next date of hearing, counsel for applicant will not argue the matter, then this Court shall consider the application on merits and I.R. will not be continued, but looking to the request made by learned senior counsel, one day's time is again granted to argue the matter. It is made clear that if on the next date of hearing, counsel for petitioner will not argue the matter, then this Court shall consider the application on merits and I.R. will not be continued. List tomorrow i.e.17.06.2026".

Case title: ABHISHEK BANERJEE v/s AKASH VIJAYVARGIA

MISC. CRIMINAL CASE No. 51319 of 2025

Click Here To Read/Download Order

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (MP) 215