Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's camp on Tuesday approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging that Kolkata Police had denied permission for a proposed rally scheduled for Wednesday in which the Trinamool Congress supremo is expected to participate. The High Court permitted the petition to be filed, with the matter likely to be heard later in the day.
"Police have not granted permission for the proposed rally, leaving us with no option but to seek the intervention of the High Court," counsel and Member of Parliament (MP) Kalyan Banerjee submitted before the bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya while mentioning the matter.
Appearing for the Kalighat Trinamool Congress, Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee informed the court that police clearance for the procession had not been granted. Accepting the plea for urgent consideration, Justice Sougata Bhattacharya allowed the petition to be filed. The matter is likely to be taken up for hearing at around 2 pm on Tuesday.
The proposed rally comes a day after Mamata Banerjee led a candlelight protest outside her Kalighat residence over the alleged rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur. As the procession began on Monday, Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) briefly stopped it near the entrance to the lane leading from her residence. Banerjee and her supporters, however, crossed the barricades and continued the march onto Harish Chatterjee Street.
According to reports, the High Court has permitted the petition to be filed, and the matter is expected to be heard later on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, Trinamool leaders, including Rajya Sabha MPs Dola Sen and Pratima Mondal, along with former West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, visited Baruipur on behalf of Mamata Banerjee following the incident.
The Calcutta High Court is expected to hear the matter later on Tuesday and decide on the plea seeking permission for the proposed rally.
