Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced a hostile protest outside the Calcutta High Court on Thursday after appearing in connection with a case related to alleged post-poll violence in the state. Dramatic scenes unfolded as a section of lawyers raised slogans and shouted abusive remarks while the Trinamool Congress leader was leaving the court premises, turning the politically charged hearing into a major flashpoint.
Mamata Banerjee had arrived at the High Court shortly before 11 AM dressed in a black advocate’s gown to participate in proceedings before the bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul. The hearing revolved around allegations of violence and intimidation following the recent Assembly election results in West Bengal.
During her arguments before the court, Mamata said it was her first time personally arguing a case at the Calcutta High Court. She informed the bench that she had been enrolled with the Bar Council since 1985 and had regularly renewed her membership over the years.
Raising serious concerns over the alleged law-and-order situation in the state after the elections, the former Chief Minister claimed that women, children and members of minority communities were facing threats and intimidation in several areas.
“Married women are being threatened with rape. Houses are being looted and set on fire. Complaints are pouring in every day, but the police are taking no action,” Mamata reportedly told the court. She also sought permission to place additional allegations through supplementary affidavits.
Appealing to the judiciary for intervention, she urged the court to “save the people of Bengal,” adding that West Bengal should not become a “bulldozer state.”
However, the state government strongly contested the allegations during the hearing. Senior advocate Dhiraj Trivedi, representing the administration, argued before the bench that the accusations lacked concrete evidence and specific details.
According to the state’s counsel, no clear information had been provided regarding where exactly incidents had occurred or who had officially lodged complaints. He maintained that the police remained alert and active across the state and questioned the basis of claims suggesting large-scale violence.
The government’s lawyer further argued that the court should first determine whether the reported incidents genuinely qualified as post-poll violence before considering any interim directions. Referring to earlier judicial proceedings linked to the 2021 elections, he pointed out that even larger constitutional benches had previously examined similar allegations in detail.
After the hearing concluded, tension escalated outside the High Court complex as a group of protesting lawyers surrounded the area and raised slogans against Mamata Banerjee. Some protesters allegedly shouted “chor” (thief) slogans and used abusive language, creating a brief atmosphere of chaos near the court premises.
Security personnel quickly intervened to manage the situation as Mamata left the High Court amid heavy political and media attention.
The incident has once again highlighted the sharp political polarisation in West Bengal following the Assembly election results, with legal battles over post-poll violence continuing to intensify inside and outside the courtroom.
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