Kolkata: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared before the Calcutta High Court on Thursday wearing a black lawyer’s gown in connection with a case related to alleged post-poll violence in the state following the recent Assembly elections.
The case was filed by Shirshanya Bandopadhyay, son of senior Trinamool Congress leader and advocate Kalyan Banerjee, amid growing political tensions after the Trinamool Congress suffered a major electoral defeat that ended its 15-year rule in the state.
The elections brought the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in West Bengal.
Mamata seeks urgent protection for residents
During the hearing, Mamata Banerjee urged the court to provide urgent protection for residents allegedly affected by political violence in various districts.
Addressing the bench, she said it was her first appearance before the High Court as a lawyer.
“My regard to all the judges because this is my first time appearing in the High Court. As a lawyer I’m fighting this case,” she stated during the proceedings.
She presented visual material before the court and alleged that violence was targeting people across communities.
Allegations of attacks and displacement
The former Chief Minister alleged that children, women and minorities were among those affected by the violence.
She told the court that she was submitting a list of 10 people who were allegedly killed in post-poll incidents.
She further claimed that members of a Scheduled Caste family, including a 92-year-old widow, had been displaced from their home during the unrest.
According to her submissions, several homes, shops and political offices were allegedly vandalised in multiple districts after the election results were declared.
Claims of police inaction
Mamata Banerjee also accused law enforcement authorities of failing to respond adequately to the situation.
She alleged that in some cases police were not allowing First Information Reports (FIRs) to be registered.
The former Chief Minister also claimed that threats were being issued against women and minors.
In one of her submissions before the court, she alleged that “12-year-old girls are being threatened with rape.”
Questioning the police response, she remarked, “Is the police sleeping?”
She further stated that police should act to prevent crimes instead of merely investigating after incidents occur.
“Please protect the people of Bengal”
Describing the law and order situation as deteriorating, Mamata Banerjee appealed to the court for immediate intervention.
“Please protect the people of Bengal. This is not a bulldozer state,” she said during the hearing.
She also referred to reports of damage to public spaces and local markets during the violence.
The former Chief Minister stated that people from different communities were facing fear and insecurity in several areas following the elections.
TMC backs Mamata’s court appearance
Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress praised Banerjee’s appearance in court and described it as a reflection of her commitment towards the people of the state.
In a statement shared on social media, the party said she continued to stand for “truth, justice and constitutional values.”
The party also accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics and alleged that Banerjee consistently opposed what it termed as politics of hatred.
Political violence continues after polls
The case comes at a politically volatile time in West Bengal following the Assembly election results announced on May 4.
Several districts have since witnessed incidents of political violence, including clashes, vandalism, bomb attacks and retaliatory assaults.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress have blamed each other for the unrest.
In one of the major incidents reported after the elections, Chandranath Rath, considered a close aide of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on May 6.
The matter remains under judicial consideration before the Calcutta High Court.