HC orders notices to Mamata, Abhishek in contempt case over TMC Martyrs' Day rally

Business To Business, Kolkata, 19^th June, 2026:  The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed that notices be served on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in connection with a contempt petition alleging violation of a court directive during the Martyrs' Day Rally held last year.
The matter was raised before a division bench headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee by the petitioner's counsel, Srikanta Dutta. The plea alleged non-compliance with a 2018 court order that stipulated public gatherings on major roads should not result in complete blockage of traffic.
The 2018 directive had been issued by a division bench comprising the then Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee. The bench had ordered that whenever meetings or rallies are held on arterial roads, a passage must remain open to allow the movement of pedestrians and emergency vehicles.
The contempt petition contends that this direction was allegedly violated during the July 21 rally. By issuing notices, the court has sought responses from the concerned parties before proceeding further with the matter. The order does not amount to a finding of guilt but marks the beginning of judicial consideration of the allegations.