Calcutta HC Directs State To Ensure Safe Convoy To Ministers In Suvendu Adhikari's Plea Alleging Targeted Attacks On Opposition Leaders
Jayanti Pahwa
2 Feb 2026 11:34 AM IST
The Calcutta High Court, on Monday (February 2), directed the State to ensure adequate safety to convoys of political leaders. ministers and Members of Parliament in accordance with their entitlement in a petition filed by the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, alleging targeted and recurring acts of violence on opposition leaders.
The division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen directed;
"Since the State has prayed for time, it shall be the duty of the State to ensure that in the meantime political leaders/ ministers/ MPs move in the area, they shall be given adequate protection in accordance with their entitlement".
The application has been moved in a writ petition originally filed in October 2025, claiming that despite prior notification to the Police and adherence to prescribed protocols, violent attacks have been carried out upon the convoys and programmes of opposition leaders.
During the last hearing, the counsel appearing for Adhikari claimed that police officials, under the guise of 'route lining'— a security arrangement provided during the movement of political personalities, were allegedly orchestrating the attacks. The counsel claimed that sensitive movement details were being passed on, leading to gatherings of antisocial elements who subsequently attacked convoys of opposition leaders.
In today's hearing, the counsel for the petitioner could not appear in person and appeared through video conferencing. The counsel informed the court that he was prepared to argue on interim relief.
Similarly, the counsel for the State also argued that the Senior Counsel who would argue the matter was not available and prayed for the matter to be posted on a different date.
Thus, the bench listed the matter for February 18, 2026, on the question of interim relief.
Case Title: SUVENDU ADHIKARI AND ANR VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. [WPA(P)/461/2025]