Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order that denied him permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
The High Court had on August 5 dismissed Banerjee’s plea, noting that the Diamond Harbour MP declined to appear before the medical board at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, for assessment. The court observed that had he appeared, medical experts’ opinions could have guided its decision on whether overseas treatment was necessary.
Earlier, on August 3, the apex court had directed the High Court to hear Banerjee’s plea within a week. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Banerjee, told the Supreme Court that the petition sought modification of the HC’s order to allow travel for medical reasons.
The High Court had previously extended Banerjee’s interim protection from coercive action till October 6 in a case linked to alleged remarks against rival party members during the West Bengal Assembly polls. It directed him to cooperate with the investigation and barred foreign travel without prior court approval.
Maintaining its stance, the court said it was not inclined to permit travel abroad while the probe was ongoing, pointing out that several reputed eye clinics are available in Kolkata. Banerjee has also sought quashing of the FIR filed against him.
The Supreme Court is expected to examine whether the High Court’s refusal to grant travel permission aligns with medical and procedural fairness, as the TMC leader continues to contest restrictions on his movement amid the ongoing investigation.
