Kunal, 13 others arrested after HC denies permission for TMC student wing rally
Times of India | 26 July 2026
Kolkata: Minutes after the Calcutta High Court on Saturday refused permission for a Trinamool Chhatra Parishad rally — observing that the situation was “not normal” due to widespread student protests and that permitting a political student wing’s rally “may escalate tension” — police lathi-charged and arrested MLA Kunal Ghosh, ex-councillor Baishanor Chattopadhyay and 12 other Trinamool workers at Paddapukur. All were later released on bail.
Trinamool had initially received police permission for a 2pm to 6pm rally from Paddapukur to Moulali to express solidarity with Jantar Mantar protests and oppose police action against students in Delhi.
The permit was withdrawn at 11pm Friday on grounds of traffic management and public safety. The party moved the court, which admitted the appeal. “Once we learnt of the HC order at 3:30pm, we began vacating the spot and asking our workers to leave — that was when the police lathi-charged and made arrests,” MP Dola Sen told reporters outside Lalbazar, where the arrested party workers were taken.
Mamata Banerjee arrived at Lalbazar on a two-wheeler after Ghosh and Chattopadhyay were taken away in a prison van, with two motorbike riders allegedly heckling her. “They attacked me as well. This is not a democracy. Our MLA and several others have been arrested, our sound system wires were cut. Our workers created no obstruction, yet this govt’s level of oppression is beyond all limits,” she said.
At the special morning hearing, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya declined to override the police decision, noting that the previous day’s student gathering at Esplanade had left police facing “a trying time managing protests and restoring normalcy.”
While acknowledging citizens’ rights to free speech and peaceful assembly under Article 19, the court said a balance had to be struck with the administration’s duty to maintain public order.
Addressing TMCP president Priyanka Adhikari, the judge said: “The situation today is far from normal regarding the students’ protests. If you wish to show solidarity, join them, but no separate orders will be passed. Do not try to take advantage of the situation.”
Advocate General Surajit Nath Mitra submitted that permission had been withdrawn only when “the situation changed completely” on Friday evening. “We must ensure there is no breach of peace and tranquility,” he said.