BJP Approaches Calcutta High Court for Protest Permission After ED Raid Controversy
The Bharatiya Janata Party has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to hold a protest rally outside Nabanna, the West Bengal Secretariat. This legal move comes after the Enforcement Directorate faced alleged obstruction during raids at the Indian Political Action Committee office.
Police Denial Spurs Court Petition
BJP leaders initially requested police permission for the protest outside Nabanna in Kolkata. The police denied this request citing security concerns about the highly secure zone. The party then approached the Calcutta High Court for judicial intervention.
According to legal counsel representing the BJP, other political parties and organizations have previously held rallies in the area with court approval. The party argues this establishes precedent for their protest request.
Background of the ED Raids
The controversy stems from ED raids conducted on January 8 at two locations. Officers searched the residence of the I-PAC chief and the Salt Lake office of the political consultancy firm. During these operations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several senior officials were reportedly present.
The day following the raids, Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest outside Home Minister Amit Shah's office in Delhi. They condemned the ED's actions as politically motivated. In response, the BJP now seeks court permission for their counter-protest outside CM Banerjee's office.
Suvendu Adhikari Files Separate Petition
In a related development, Suvendu Adhikari filed a separate petition in the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The Leader of Opposition requested a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into an attack on his convoy.
Adhikari claims TMC supporters attacked his vehicles with bamboo sticks in Chandrakona. He alleges the incident occurred around 8:20 PM while returning from Purulia. Local police were present but failed to intervene according to his account.
The opposition leader stated he escaped injury due to bulletproof glass in his vehicle. His security team and local BJP supporters eventually removed the attackers after a scuffle.
Details of the Alleged Attack
Adhikari provided these specific details about the incident:
- The attack occurred at the four-point crossing in Chandrakona Road Market area
- Attackers carried TMC party flags and bamboo sticks
- They also had a can of petrol according to Adhikari
- The attackers targeted two vehicles without knowing which contained Adhikari
After leaving the scene, Adhikari went directly to a police outpost. He staged a six-hour dharna there, protesting what he called inadequate police response.
Previous Incidents and Government Response
This is not the first attack on Adhikari's convoy. In August 2025, his vehicles were allegedly attacked by TMC supporters in Cooch Behar town. The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report about the latest incident from Adhikari's office.
Video recordings of the Chandrakona incident have been sent to the MHA for review. Adhikari's legal counsel cited lack of trust in state police as reason for requesting CBI investigation.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Justice Shampa Dutta (Paul) heard the BJP's protest permission case. The single-judge bench allowed the petition to be filed. Meanwhile, Justice Suvra Ghosh granted permission for Adhikari's petition regarding the CBI probe.
Both cases highlight ongoing political tensions in West Bengal. The developments come amid heightened scrutiny of law enforcement actions and political violence in the state.
