Kolkata, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday denied permission to Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya rejected Banerjee’s plea after noting that the court had earlier advised him to consult medical experts at the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata before seeking approval for treatment overseas.
During the hearing, Banerjee’s counsel informed the court that he would not undergo consultation at S.S.K.M. Hospital. Following this submission, Justice Bhattacharya not only refused permission for foreign travel but also dismissed the entire petition filed by the TMC leader.
The matter had earlier reached the Supreme Court after the Calcutta High Court, during a July 20 hearing, asked Banerjee to first obtain medical advice from S.S.K.M. Hospital. Banerjee had approached the apex court seeking permission to travel abroad, but a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Venkita Subramani Mohan, referred the matter back to the Calcutta High Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the High Court to decide the issue within seven days, following which Justice Bhattacharya scheduled Wednesday’s hearing.
During the proceedings, Banerjee’s counsel Rebecca Mammen John argued that the MP required overseas medical treatment and pointed out that he had earlier been permitted to travel abroad in connection with a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Opposing the plea, West Bengal Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar argued that the earlier permission was granted when Banerjee was not an accused in the ED case. He said the state had objections to his foreign travel in view of multiple ongoing cases in which he is now an accused.
Majumdar further argued that allowing Banerjee to travel abroad at this stage could potentially affect ongoing investigations.
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