FIR filed over Mamata Banerjee’s Martyrs’ Day rally for alleged violation of High Court order

Kolkata

Kolkata Police on Thursday, July 23, 2026, registered an FIR for alleged violation of the Kolkata High Court order in connection with former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Martyrs’ Day rally. The order stipulated that the rally could only block one side of the road, while traffic would be allowed to flow on the other side. However, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, both carriageways near Birla Planetarium remained closed during the programme.

The police filed a suo motu complaint against the Trinamool Congress group led by Ms. Banerjee at Hastings Police Station. After the program started, Cathedral Road outside Birla Planetarium in the heart of the city remained closed from both sides. While this situation caused disruptions in traffic, vehicles were kept waiting for hours on both sides of the road.

Traffic police directed vehicles in other directions to ensure easy transportation in other parts of the city. According to sources, the allowed attendance limit at the rally was also exceeded.

In a related development, Hastings Police Station registered another suo motu FIR over alleged vandalism at the rally stage on the night of July 20, ahead of the event.

Court postpones Abhishek Banerjee’s plea

The Kolkata High Court on Thursday also adjourned the plea of ​​Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who had sought protection against coercive acts in connection with eight FIRs.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya told Mr. Banerjee’s lawyer that all eight FIRs cannot be put together and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The case was postponed to July 30. However, the court requested that information be given in case of any sanctions, but did not provide protection.

Earlier, on May 21, the same court granted protection to Mr. Banerjee in a case in which an FIR was registered against her for allegedly making provocative statements during the West Bengal Assembly elections. The protection will remain in effect until July 31. However, the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation and observed that if he failed to do so, the protection could be withdrawn.

However, in other cases similar protection has not been extended. Since the Trinamool Congress’ defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party on May 4, several cases have been registered against Mr. Banerjee in different police stations in the state.