Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday made a rare courtroom appearance before the Calcutta High Court, where she represented petitioners in a matter linked to alleged post-election violence in the state.
Appearing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, Banerjee urged the court to ensure registration of FIRs in all reported incidents connected to post-poll unrest and sought protection for vulnerable and minority communities.
During the hearing, she reportedly informed the bench that multiple deaths had occurred following the declaration of election results earlier this month.
Tense Scenes Erupt Outside Court Premises
The situation turned tense after the hearing concluded when a section of people gathered outside the court premises allegedly shouted slogans against Banerjee as she exited the building.
Soon after the incident, Banerjee claimed before reporters that she had faced aggressive behaviour during the commotion outside the court complex. No injuries were officially reported.
The development triggered a sharp political response from the ruling Trinamool Congress.
TMC Blames BJP-Linked Lawyers for Disruption
Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee, who accompanied Mamata Banerjee during the proceedings, accused lawyers allegedly linked to the BJP of creating disruption near the court premises.
He claimed party members and legal representatives encountered difficulty while escorting Banerjee out of the area safely after the hearing ended.
Trinamool spokesperson Arup Chakraborty also criticised the episode, calling it a disturbing development inside a court environment and alleging that political hostility in the state had intensified after the election results.
PIL Filed Over Alleged Violence Against TMC Workers
The Public Interest Litigation connected to the hearing was reportedly filed earlier this week on behalf of Trinamool supporters who alleged attacks and intimidation after the Assembly election outcome.
The petition sought judicial intervention over allegations that several party workers were targeted, displaced or threatened in different parts of the state following the results.
Mamata Appears in Lawyer’s Robes Amid Ongoing Legal Debate
Mamata Banerjee appeared in traditional advocate attire during the hearing, wearing a black lawyer’s coat over her trademark white saree — a move that had already generated legal and political discussion across West Bengal.
