Kolkata, Oct 6 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday sought to know the assessment made by the West Bengal government before downgrading the security cover of Mamata All India Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and asked it to file a comprehensive report on the matter on October 13.
The court of Justice Krishna Rao asked the government whether it had reviewed the Diamond Harbour MP’s security following four alleged attacks he reported after his security cover was downgraded from Z-plus to X category.
Justice Rao said although stone-pelting may be a minor offence, but “what if the projectiles hit a part of a person’s body?”
Hearing a petition filed by Banerjee challenging the downgrading of his security cover, the court said the state must take all precautionary measures.
The state’s counsel prayed for time to file a detailed report before the court.
Justice Rao directed the West Bengal government to file a report on October 13, when the matter will be heard again.
The court asked the state government’s counsel the basis on which the security cover was reduced on May 10, as claimed by the petitioner, given that the initial assessment was on May 12.
The court sought to know the steps the state government had taken upon receiving intimation about an alleged attack on Banerjee on May 29.
Justice Rao noted that the state authority failed to produce the order for withdrawing Z-plus security cover to Banerjee and downgrading it to X category on May 10.
Banerjee’s lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan claimed that Z-plus category security accorded to the Diamond Harbour MP was withdrawn on May 10, a day after the new government took over in West Bengal, without any notice to him from either the Union Home Ministry or the state government.
The lawyer stated that Banerjee’s security cover was reduced to X category, which means he is provided two personal security officers, whereas under Z-plus category, there is a complete entourage of security personnel which guards the protectee as well as his place of residence and office, including commandoes.
When Justice Rao asked for the order for withdrawing Z-plus security cover to Banerjee, the MP’s lawyer claimed that there was none.
He claimed that Banerjee, a three-time Diamond Harbour MP, was not provided the rationale behind the withdrawal of the security cover to him.
Banerjee’s advocate argued that a reduction in security cover cannot be done without an assessment and an opportunity for the protectee to be heard. He stated that four separate attacks took place following the withdrawal of security to Banerjee, who also suffers an eye ailment owing to an accident.
He prayed that the court calls for a report from the Union Home Ministry to communicate whether there has been any reason for downgrading the security cover to Banerjee.
Additional Solicitor General Dhiraj Trivedi, representing the Union government, stated that the security and threat assessment is done by the state police and not by the Centre as law and order is a state subject.
In connection with the alleged attack in May-end, he stated that a hospital report had stated that there was no serious injury that would require Banerjee’s admission to the hospital.
The West Bengal government’s counsel stated that a police special branch assessment report indicated no threat to Banerjee in Kolkata Police jurisdiction.
He stated that Banerjee’s security cover was changed to X category and a comprehensive report followed on May 29.
Stating that since 2016, Banerjee enjoyed Z-plus security cover, his lawyer told the court that in 2024, after an assessment of threat perception to Banerjee by the Union Home Ministry, the Diamond Harbour MP was granted Z-plus security cover across India.
He claimed that this security cover was suddenly withdrawn following the West Bengal assembly election results in May this year, which the BJP won, defeating the TMC.
He stated that Banerjee made a representation to the government for restoration of Z-plus security cover following the attacks, after which the posting of security personnel at his house was also withdrawn.
In May, following the West Bengal assembly polls results, Banerjee was allegedly heckled and pelted with eggs while visiting a family at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas. PTI AMR ACD
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