Calcutta High Court Judge Recuses From Hearing BJP Lok Sabha Candidate & Former Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay's Plea For Quashing FIR, Cites Personal Relations

On Tuesday, Calcutta High Court judge Justice Jay Sengupta recused from hearing a plea by former judge and BJP Lok Sabha Candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay seeking to quash an FIR registered against him, accusing him of attempt to murder, for allegedly assaulting protesting teachers while participating in a BJP rally at Tamluk.

Justice Sengupta recused from hearing the plea upon stating that he had had a close relationship with former judge Gangopadhyay during their time in the bar and on the bench. The matter was also released from Justice Sengupta's list and will be placed before Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam for necessary assignment.

It was stated by the complainants that Gangopadhyay had allegedly assaulted certain protesting staff belonging to state/aided institutions who had lost their jobs as a result of a recent High Court ruling.

Complainants had alleged that Gangopadhyay was part of a rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), containing party workers who had visited the protest site of the former teachers/staff and assaulted them.

Accordingly, a criminal complaint was registered against the former judge.

Gangopadhyay's counsel alleged that the FIR was a political ploy used by the State government to stop him from campaigning and participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in West Bengal.