In an unprecedented move, Justice Jay Sengupta of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday released from its list a petition filed by former Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, now a BJP Lok Sabha candidate.
Attempt to Murder Case
The petition had raised concerns over alleged police overaction in registering a case of attempted murder against the former judge. Gangopadhyay, formerly a judge of the high court, sought the quashing of the FIR related to an incident where he faced protest while filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls in the Tamluk constituency as a BJP candidate on Monday.
His counsel, Rajdeep Majumder, argued that Gangopadhyay was merely at the collector’s office to file his nomination and was uninvolved in the alleged incident.
Despite this, his name was included in the FIR, which included a charge of attempted murder under Section 307 of the IPC.
Referred to the Chief Justice
Upon commencement of the proceedings, Justice Jay Sengupta released the petition from consideration, citing personal reasons. He directed that the petition be referred to the Chief Justice of the high court for reassignment to another bench. Gangopadhyay, who resigned from his position as a judge of the Calcutta High Court in March, is the BJP’s candidate for the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat.
