Calcutta High Court Extends Stay On Investigation Against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari Over Allegations Of Cash, Firearms Recovered From Residence

The Calcutta High Court has extended a stay on an investigation against BJP leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, over allegations of cash and firearms recovered from his residence, registered in the name of his secretary, in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections.

A single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha had earlier stayed the investigation, and at the present hearing, extended the stay till 28th June 2024.

At the earlier hearing, Adhikari's counsel argued that the police's action of raiding Adhikari's residence late at night was deliberately to harass the LoP amid the Lok Sabha polls. It was further contended that although the residence was in the name of Adhikari's secretary, it was the LoP who was using the premises as a residential office, and hence an earlier stay which was granted by a coordinate bench preventing the police from taking coercive steps against Adhikari would apply in the present case as well.

The state counsel claimed that the police action was in connection with a different case and that the police was not aware that the place was being used by Adhikari. It was claimed that the stay on coercive action was only granted in favour of the LoP and that the premises which was owned by Adhikari's secretary could not be covered within the purview of the coordinate bench's order.

On that occasion, Justice Sinha had questioned the police's prompt action against Adhikari, and directed for the investigation, as well as proceedings arising out of the raid to be stayed till further orders.

Case No: WPA/14798/2024

Case: SUVENDU ADHIKARI VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.