The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday extended the stay on the execution of an arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee by a special court in Bhopal. The court, however, warned that if his counsel does not argue the case on the next hearing date, June 16, the application will be decided on its merits.
Background of the Case
The special court in Bhopal, which handles cases against politicians, had issued the arrest warrant against Abhishek Banerjee, who is also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The warrant was issued in connection with a defamation suit filed by Akash Vijayvergiya, son of Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvergiya, in 2021. The suit alleges that Banerjee called him a "goonda" during a public meeting in Kolkata in 2021.
Banerjee's Plea in High Court
In his petition before the High Court, Banerjee argued that as a sitting Member of Parliament, there is no risk of him fleeing the country. He requested additional time to appear before the court, citing his busy schedule. The bench of Justice Pramod Sharma, while hearing the application on Monday, extended the stay on the arrest warrant but imposed a condition.
Court's Directive
The court stated that if Banerjee's counsel fails to present arguments on the application during the next hearing on June 16, the court will proceed to decide the matter on its merits. This effectively means that the stay could be lifted if the defense does not actively pursue the case.
This development comes as a relief for Banerjee, who has been facing legal challenges in multiple states. The defamation case is one of several legal battles the TMC leader is currently involved in.
