Calcutta High Court Declines Plea to Restrain Media Reporting on Abhishek Banerjee Probe

The Calcutta High Court declined to entertain a request by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee to restrain media reporting and commentary about an ongoing investigation.

Background

The petitioner alleged that information concerning investigative steps was being leaked to news organisations. Those allegations have not been established in the proceeding.

Legal issue

The case raised the balance between privacy and fair investigation on one side and reporting on matters of public interest on the other.

Court’s approach

The Bench declined to hear the application because it considered that the matter belonged before a different roster or competent court. It did not determine the merits of the alleged leaks.

What follows

Banerjee was granted liberty to approach the appropriate court and mention the matter urgently. No restraint on reporting was issued in these proceedings.