Supreme Court Asks Calcutta High Court To Consider Abhishek Banerjee's Plea Against Media Reports On Investigations Against Him

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Calcutta High Court to consider Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's application seeking interim relief against media reporting concerning investigations and cases against him, in which he alleged that the dissemination of investigation-related information was leading to a media trial.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing Banerjee's plea seeking restraint on media reporting concerning matters under investigation against him.

Banerjee approached the Supreme Court contending that the Calcutta High Court had refused to hear the plea on an urgent basis.

Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Banerjee, told the Supreme Court that the writ petition was filed before the High Court in September, but the court had found that the matter did not fall within its roster.

Alam said that he had mentioned the matter three times before the High Court and that the alleged violation of Banerjee's rights was continuing, with articles concerning him being published on a daily basis.

He argued that repeated judicial pronouncements have held that the presumption of innocence cannot be undermined through media trials.

Alam stated that Banerjee was seeking take-down orders against the reports and that all relevant steps had already been taken before the High Court. He said he would make another request before the High Court for urgent consideration.

The Supreme Court permitted Banerjee to bring the matter to the notice of the Calcutta High Court immediately upon its reopening on November 16.

The bench requested the High Court to consider Banerjee's application for interim relief.