Banerjee’s lawyer said in the hearing that he would not visit SSKM for an examination.(Photo: X)
Calcutta: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday did not allow Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee to go abroad for eye treatments which was a big blow to the party leader. The court also threw out his petition when he refused to get him examined at the state-run SSKM Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata as ordered previously.
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya said there was no urgent necessity for Banerjee to seek treatment overseas when better medical facilities existed in India.
The court said it had earlier instructed Banerjee to first get checked by specialists at the SSKM Medical College and Hospital. The court said it would consider his petition for traveling abroad based on the medical certificate.
However, Banerjee’s lawyer said in the hearing on Wednesday that he would not visit SSKM for an examination. After hearing this, Justice Bhattacharya rejected the petition’s demand for traveling abroad and threw out the petition completely.
He further said that the best medical treatment should be a priority whether it was found in India or overseas.
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Abhishek Banerjee has a police case pending against him over alleged “intimidatory” remarks made during 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign.
He has already been given interim protection from coercive action until November 6 by the High Court, on condition that he cooperate with the finding and does not travel abroad without the permission of the court.
The court also expressed concern that his presence abroad may influence the investigation, which is still in progress.
Once the Calcutta High Court rejected his plea on July 20, Banerjee went to Supreme Court to ask for permission for treatment abroad.
The apex court did not issue a judgment but instructed the Calcutta High Court to look into the case within seven days and deliver a decision.
Following the Supreme Court's direction, Justice Bhattacharya heard the matter on Wednesday and delivered the order refusing permission.
Senior advocate Rebecca Mammen John, representing Banerjee, said her client required specialized ophthalmic treatment overseas because he had been hurt in an eye injury when he was involved in a road accident in 2016.
She also said Banerjee had previously been granted permission to travel abroad in the context of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case.
The state government, meanwhile, was not in favour of the request. Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar said the earlier case was different because Banerjee was presumably not an accused. He said several investigations were being carried out against the TMC leader and his exit from the country could potentially impede the investigations.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Banerjee did not need to travel overseas because high-quality eye treatment was available in India. BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said his medical condition could be used to justify his leave from the country.
The TMC rebel faction, meanwhile, also doubted the idea, saying travel overseas could potentially impede legal proceedings because Members of Parliament possess diplomatic passports.
With the High Court dismissing the petition, Abhishek Banerjee will have to continue following the court's directions while the investigations against him remain pending.
