Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Approaches Calcutta High Court Over Convoy Attack, Seeks Protection From Arrest In Cross-FIR

Leader of opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday (January 21) approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection from alleged coercive actions of the police in connection with a criminal case registered against him at Chandrakona Police Station.The BJP leader, in his petition, claimed that on January 10, 2026, his convoy was attacked. He claimed that the attackers poured kerosene on his vehicle and attempted to set it on fire.He claimed that despite police officials being present at the time of the incident, they took no preventive measures to rescue him and that he was saved only because of the swift action of his personal security staff. It was further claimed that the police initially refused to register his complaint, forcing him to stage a sit-in protest. Later, the FIR was registered but under diluted and bailable offences. It was further asserted that the police officials did not include Section 109 BNS relating to attempted murder in the said FIR. On January 11, 2026, the day after the aforementioned attack, a cross-FIR was registered against Adhikari. The Cross-FIR was filed for offences of wrongful restraint (Section 126), voluntarily causing hurt (Section 115), attempt to murder (Section 109), and criminal intimidation (Section 351) under BNS.The petition states that despite the complaint clearly disclosing the ingredients of an offence under Section 109 BNS, the police authorities deliberately failed to invoke the said provision, while incorporating the same in the Cross-FIR registered against him.The plea stated that such selective and insistent application of penal provision manifests discriminatory, arbitrary and malafide exercise of power by authorities. During the hearing, the Advocate General appearing for the State gave an oral assurance that no coercive steps would be taken as long as he cooperates with the investigation. Recording the submission, the bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh passed the following order,"Affidavit of service and supplementary affidavit filed by the petitioner are taken on record. Learned counsel for the petitioner seeks accommodation. Let the matter appear under the same heading on 29th January, 2026. Respondents are directed to submit a report in the matter on the adjourned date". Case Title: SUVENDU ADHIKARI Versus STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS. [WPA 861 of 2026]

Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Approaches Calcutta High Court Over Convoy Attack, Seeks Protection From Arrest In Cross-FIR

Jayanti Pahwa

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