HC directs Abhishek to appear for voice sample collection on July 15
Times of India | 11 July 2026
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to appear before a magistrate on July 15 for voice sample collection over his alleged ‘DJ remark’ and asked the police to ensure that “there is no egg-pelting”.
The HC talked tough against Banerjee for missing three summonses despite interim protection, saying that “there should be a limit to everything”. Banerjee has got interim protection from coercive action in the case by a May 21 order.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya pointed to Banerjee’s counsel Ayan Bhattacharjee, asking why he was not going before a magistrate for voice sample collection. “Now if you go on like this, I will dismiss the criminal revision application with exemplary cost and recall this order. This is abuse of the due process of court…” he said.
“A judicial officer has passed an order seeking a requirement to give a voice sample and you have denied to comply with it on the ground that you have filed a criminal revision. At the same time, the writ petition where blanket protection was given is pending before this court… This is nothing but a ploy to frustrate the investigation,” Justice Bhattacharyya told Banerjee’s counsel.
Bhattacharjee submitted: “This was on wrong legal advice given by us. We take the responsibility.”
The TMC MP had filed a criminal revision application before a coordinate bench against the magistrate’s June 23 order seeking a voice sample. Their argument was that when Banerjee had accepted that it was his voice, what was the need for the voice testing. They also argued that the magistrate’s order was bad in law.
Justice Bhattacharyya called out Banerjee’s conduct on approaching a coordinate bench in a matter originating from the same FIR in which he granted Banerjee protection “subject to” him cooperating with the probe and attending summons. The judge called this “running from one court to another, and abuse of due process of the court”.
“Doesn’t instill confidence so far as the conduct of the petitioner is concerned… You could have filed an application on July 20 and placed before this court that this has happened in the meantime. I would have appreciated your bona fide,” Justice Bhattacharyya said.
Following this, Banerjee withdrew the criminal revision application.
The case stems from Banerjee’s alleged ‘DJ remarks’ made during a public meeting in Baguiati ahead of the assembly polls.