The Madhya Pradesh High Court has lifted the interim stay on an arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress MP and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a defamation case, potentially adding to the legal challenges faced by the senior TMC leader.
A single bench of Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal on Wednesday dismissed Banerjee's petition and vacated the stay granted in November 2025 on the execution of the arrest warrant issued by a special MP-MLA court in Bhopal.
The warrant stems from a defamation complaint filed in 2021 by former Indore MLA Akash Vijayvargiya, son of senior BJP leader and minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. According to the complaint, Banerjee had allegedly referred to Akash Vijayvargiya as a "goon" while addressing a rally in Kolkata in November 2020. The MP-MLA court subsequently issued an arrest warrant against the TMC leader, prompting him to approach the high court for relief.
In his plea before the court, Banerjee had argued that he is a Member of Parliament and was unlikely to abscond. Taking note of the submission, the high court had stayed the execution of the arrest warrant on November 12, 2025.
However, during Wednesday's hearing, no one appeared on behalf of the petitioner. Taking serious note of the absence, the court observed in its order that it appeared the petitioner had lost interest in pursuing the matter. Justice Agarwal subsequently lifted the stay on the arrest warrant, dismissed the petition and directed that a copy of the order be sent to the Bhopal court.
The development comes at a time when Banerjee is also facing scrutiny in a separate Enforcement Directorate investigation related to alleged corruption charges.
This legal setback adds to the mounting troubles for the Trinamool Congress leader, who has been at the center of political controversies and legal battles. The defamation case, initiated by Akash Vijayvargiya, highlights the ongoing political rivalry between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal and beyond.
With the arrest warrant now active, Banerjee may face legal proceedings in Bhopal, potentially impacting his political activities and parliamentary duties. The case also underscores the broader trend of defamation lawsuits being used as tools in political confrontations.
The High Court's decision to dismiss the petition due to non-appearance of the petitioner's counsel raises questions about the legal strategy and preparedness of Banerjee's legal team. It remains to be seen how the TMC leader will respond to this development and what steps he will take to address the warrant.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details emerge.
