Suvendu Adhikari Approaches SC Against HC Order

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday approached the Supreme Court to challenge a July 20 order issued by the Calcutta High Court.

The High Court’s order lifted a 2-year restraint on the West Bengal police, allowing them to register FIR against him.

Advocate Bansuri Swaraj, representing Adhikari, brought the plea before a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia and stated that “I have been protected so far and since the high court order of vacating the stay, the state has started registering FIRs.”

Swaraj informed the bench that since the High Court order vacating the stay, the state started registering FIRs against Adhikari. Currently, he is facing 26 FIRs, and the matter needs to be heard at the earliest. The bench agreed to hear the case on August 4.

Suvendu contended in his plea that, “The police machinery in the state of West Bengal is in collusion with the current ruling party, and constantly attempting to foist cases against the Petitioner.”

The Calcutta High Court directive on July 20 came in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed against Adhikari, accusing him of making provocative remarks during the West Bengal Panchayat elections. The High Court asked the police to investigate the matter and register an FIR against him, stating that the previous order restraining the filing of FIRs against Adhikari was being misinterpreted.

Suvendu’s plea stated while seeking a stay on the high court order, “It is also imperative to mention that the interim relief granted by way of the impugned order, is actually the main prayer. At this stage, (it) can have serious ramifications and result in the registration of various other FIRs against the Petitioner.”