CALCUTTA HIGH COURT PUTS BENGAL’S ABHISHEK SECURITY DOWNGRADE UNDER JUDICIAL SCRUTINY

October 7, 2026

The Calcutta High Court has questioned the West Bengal government over its decision to reduce Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s security cover from Z+ to X category, particularly asking why the Diamond Harbour MP was not informed about the change.

Justice Krishna Rao directed the state government to submit an affidavit explaining the decision by October 13, when the matter will be heard again. The court also expressed concern over the possibility of a security incident occurring while the issue remains under consideration, stressing the responsibility of authorities to ensure adequate protection.

Abhishek’s counsel told the court that his Z+ protection was withdrawn on May 10 and that he was subsequently confronted by an aggressive crowd during a visit to Sonarpur. The lawyer also referred to a later incident at Kolkata airport in which an alleged attacker was reportedly found carrying a firearm.

The state’s position was defended by Additional Solicitor-General Dhiraj Trivedi, who acknowledged the Sonarpur incident but pointed out that medical records indicated that Abhishek had not suffered any significant injury. He also argued that security requirements cannot be determined solely by the individual receiving protection.

Abhishek had received Z+ security in 2015 following an attack during a political programme in Chandipur, East Midnapore. The state Directorate of Security reviewed his protection after the change of government in May and subsequently reduced it to X category.

The court’s intervention has now brought the process of security assessment, the basis for the downgrade and the obligation of authorities to protect political figures facing potential threats into sharper judicial focus.