Abhishek Banerjee moves Supreme Court seeking 'restraint' on Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay's remarks
Kolkata/New Delhi/IBNS: Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a "restraint" on Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay from making "politically motivated" statements in sub-judice cases, media reports said.
Abhishek, who also happens to be the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said Justice Gangopadhyay's comments could influence the central probe agencies, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The TMC MP has pleaded to the Supreme Court to constitute a special High Court bench to hear the cases where he is linked to.
Justice Gangopadhyay, who often trains his guns at the TMC government over the corruption cases, has recently referred to Abhishek's "huge assets".
"There is a leader named Abhishek Banerjee. How can he have such huge assets! Will he post an affidavit of assets on social media? Will he be able to do that?
"If he does, then I will request other equivalent leaders like Minakshi Mukherjee to do the same," Justice Gangopadhyay said.
After Abhishek's petition, Justice Gangopadhyay said, as quoted by The Times of India, "Anyone can file a petition. Due to my actions and words, a section of people are in trouble. There is an attempt to drag some people down."
In his petition, Abhishek pointed out Justice Gangopadhyay was seen with CPI-M leaders Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, Kanti Ganguly, who are staunch opponents of the TMC.
Abhishek was earlier summoned multiple times in cases pertaining to coal and teacher recruitment scams that have embarrassed the ruling party in the last couple of years.