In a setback for Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, the Calcutta High Court on Friday withdrew the blanket protection that had prevented the police from taking coercive action against him without court permission.

The single-judge bench of Justice Joy Sengupta observed Friday that such protection, granted earlier as an interim order, cannot remain in force indefinitely and has to come to an end. “An interim order can’t be continued for an indefinite period,” Justice Sengupta said.

While the court dismissed 15 cases filed against Adhikari, it directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations in five other FIRs that the BJP leader had sought to be quashed.

Almost three years ago, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the court had ruled that no new FIRs could be filed against him without the court’s prior approval. On December 8, 2022, Justice Mantha had stayed 26 FIRs lodged against Adhikari and directed that future complaints would also require the court’s permission.

A senior BJP leader told The Indian Express, “Just before the elections (next year), this verdict will create trouble for a leader like Suvendu Adhikari. We fear that during campaign programmes, he may be framed or even arrested to stop his campaign against the ruling Trinamool Congress.”

Reacting to the verdict, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “It’s a big setback for Adhikari. We repeatedly said such blanket protection can’t continue for an indefinite period. The High Court has basically given a positive nod to our demand.”