Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Calcutta High Court Questions Bengal’s Abhishek Banerjee Security Downgrade
The West Bengal government lowered Abhishek Banerjee’s security from Z+ to X. The Calcutta High Court asked the government to explain how it made that decision.
The judge said the state had not shown documents about the decision and noted that a letter explaining it came after the downgrade.
The court also said Banerjee had not been told about the change.
His lawyer said he had been attacked in two incidents, while the government’s lawyer acknowledged one incident but said a hospital found no significant injury.
The judge asked who would be responsible if Banerjee were hurt while the case was ongoing.
The court said his earlier Z+ protection could be restored for now.
The state was directed to provide an explanation, but reports give different dates for the next hearing.
The Calcutta High Court questioned West Bengal’s decision to reduce Abhishek Banerjee’s security from Z+ to X and asked about the threat assessment behind it.
Justice Krishna Rao said the state had not produced documents supporting the downgrade and noted that its justification letter followed the May 10 decision on May 12.
The court said Banerjee had not been informed about the change and raised concerns about responsibility for his safety while the case is pending.
Banerjee’s lawyer said he had been attacked in Sonarpur and at Calcutta airport; India’s additional solicitor-general acknowledged the Sonarpur incident but said a hospital reported no significant injury.
The court indicated that Z+ cover could be restored temporarily; the state was asked to file a report or affidavit, with the next hearing reported as Wednesday and October 13 in different accounts.
- Who
- The Calcutta High Court, the West Bengal government, and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee; Justice Krishna Rao heard the matter.
- What
- The court questioned the basis for reducing Banerjee’s security from Z+ to X and sought a government explanation.
- When
- The downgrade was made on May 10; a justification letter followed on May 12. The court questioned the decision on Tuesday. Articles report the next hearing as Wednesday or October 13.
- Where
- Calcutta High Court, Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- The court sought to examine the threat assessment and documents underlying the downgrade, and raised concerns about Banerjee’s safety.
Court and Banerjee’s representatives
State and Union government representatives
Basis for the downgrade
Court and Banerjee’s representatives
The court questioned the threat assessment and said the state had not produced documents supporting the decision; Banerjee’s lawyer said he was not told why the cover was reduced.
State and Union government representatives
The state sought time to submit a report or affidavit explaining the decision. The articles do not provide its substantive explanation for the downgrade.
Risk and protection
Court and Banerjee’s representatives
The court raised concerns about Banerjee’s safety, asked who would take responsibility if he were hurt, and indicated Z+ cover could be restored temporarily. His lawyer cited alleged attacks in Sonarpur and at Calcutta airport.
State and Union government representatives
Additional solicitor-general Dhiraj Trivedi acknowledged the Sonarpur incident but said a hospital reported no significant injury, and argued that an individual cannot determine his own security requirements.
- Previous security category
- Z+
- Reduced security category
- X
- Downgrade date
- May 10
- Justification letter date
- May 12
- Judge
- Justice Krishna Rao
- State response sought
- A report or affidavit explaining the decision and threat assessment
- Next hearing
- Accounts differ: Wednesday or October 13
