A court in Tripura’s Khowai district has summoned several senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), including party National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, and newly elected MLA Kunal Ghosh, in connection with a 2021 case involving alleged misbehaviour with police personnel and an attempt to vandalise a police station.
According to Khowai District Court Public Prosecutor Abhijit Bhattacharjee, the case dates back to 2021 when 14 TMC workers were arrested in Khowai and produced before a court in connection with a separate matter. During the course of the incident, several senior TMC leaders who were visiting Tripura allegedly confronted police officials and engaged in conduct that led to the registration of a criminal case.
The prosecutor alleged that then West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, along with Abhishek Banerjee, Dola Sen, Kunal Ghosh and their supporters, misbehaved with the Officer-in-Charge of Khowai Police Station and attempted to damage property within the police station premises.
Following the incident, Tripura Police registered a case and subsequently submitted a charge sheet before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Khowai. After examining the case records, the CJM took cognisance of the matter and issued summons to the accused persons.
Bhattacharjee said that Bratya Basu had challenged the proceedings before the High Court and was later discharged from the case. However, the remaining accused persons will continue to face legal proceedings in accordance with law.
The court reportedly issued summons in April this year directing the accused leaders to appear personally before the Khowai District Court. June 22 has been fixed as the date for their appearance.
The case stems from a period when the Trinamool Congress was actively expanding its organisational presence in Tripura ahead of key political contests. There was no immediate response from the TMC leaders named in the case regarding the court summons.
