Abhishek Banerjee skips court appearance to record voice sample in intimidatory speech case

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee did not appear before a Bidhannagar sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court to provide his voice sample in connection with an alleged intimidatory speech made during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign.

Banerjee has challenged the magistrate's order before the Calcutta High Court, seeking relief against the direction to appear before the court at 10 am on July 8. Public Prosecutor Md Sabir Ali confirmed that the Diamond Harbour MP did not appear at the scheduled time to record his voice sample.

On Tuesday, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed that the matter would be heard on Friday. Earlier, on May 21, the High Court had granted Banerjee protection from coercive action until July 31 in connection with the FIR lodged over his alleged remarks at an election rally in April.

The court had also directed the TMC leader to cooperate with the investigation and barred him from travelling abroad without prior permission.

Banerjee has additionally sought the quashing of the FIR, which pertains to alleged intimidatory comments made against leaders and workers of a rival political party during a public meeting ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections held on April 29.

The case will now come up for hearing before the Calcutta High Court later this week.