Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appeared before the Calcutta High Court, in lawyer’s attire, during the hearing of PILs related to alleged post-poll violence in the state following the 2026 Assembly election results.
Banerjee argued before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Pal, marking a rare courtroom appearance by the veteran politician. The petitions alleged widespread attacks on Trinamool Congress workers and vandalism of party offices after the BJP’s victory in the state elections.
During the hearing, as reported by LiveLaw, Banerjee told the court that West Bengal was “not a bulldozer state” and alleged that police were not allowing FIRs to be registered in connection with incidents of violence. She claimed there had been large-scale attacks and intimidation in several districts after the election results.
The PIL was filed by advocate Sirshanya Bandyopadhyay, son of Trinamool Congress MP and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee. The petition sought judicial intervention over alleged attacks on TMC leaders and workers, many of whom were allegedly forced to flee their homes after the polls.
“We want immediate protection for the people. In front of police they are capturing and looting houses and capturing offices,” she said, as reported by TOI.
According to reports, she was accompanied by senior TMC leaders including Chandrima Bhattacharya and Kalyan Banerjee.
