Mamata Banerjee to Move Court on January 6
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will file a court petition on January 6 against what she described as the “inhumane conduct” of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Banerjee said the legal move is to challenge actions taken by the agency during questioning and related procedures.
Allegations of Misconduct by Investigators
Banerjee criticised the conduct of the SIT during her interactions with the agency, alleging that officials behaved in a manner that was unjust and degrading. She said she plans to seek judicial review of the officials’ actions, asserting that they violated her dignity and fundamental rights. Banerjee did not provide specific details of the alleged conduct but said her lawyers will present the case before the appropriate court.
Political Response and Support
Several leaders from her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), rallied behind Banerjee’s decision and condemned what they called unfair targeting by central investigative agencies. They accused the central government of politically motivated action and said the court challenge is necessary to uphold constitutional rights.
Central Agencies and Investigation Context
The SIT of the CBI has been conducting inquiries in connection with alleged irregularities related to government contracts and appointments linked to Banerjee’s tenure as Chief Minister. The central agency has denied any misconduct, saying its officers acted strictly within legal procedures while carrying out questioning.
Legal Action Set for January 6
Banerjee said her legal team will file the petition on January 6 in a court with appropriate jurisdiction. The petition is expected to argue that the conduct of the investigating officers was disproportionate and violated legal safeguards. Observers say the case could draw significant judicial scrutiny and have political ramifications ahead of forthcoming elections.
