TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee moves SC again for permission to travel abroad for eye treatment
The matter related to a case concerning alleged comments made by Banerjee against leaders and workers of a rival party at a public meeting on April 27, ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order denying him permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
Banerjee has challenged the Calcutta High Court’s August 5 order dismissing his plea for permission to travel abroad.
The high court noted that Banerjee — who represents Diamond Harbour constituency in the Lok Sabha — was unwilling to appear before a medical board at the state-run SSKM Hospital for an assessment of his medical condition.
"In view of the submission made on behalf of the applicant (Abhishek) that the applicant will not appear before the medical board at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, this court finds that the issue agitated before it by filing the application ought not to be kept pending any further," the high court said, rejecting his application.
Had Banerjee appeared before the medical board, its opinion could have helped determine if he needed to travel abroad for treatment, the high court said.
This is the second time that he has approached the top court on the issue. On August 3, the Supreme Court had asked the Calcutta High Court to take up within a week his plea seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
The matter related to a case concerning alleged comments made by Abhishek Banerjee against leaders and workers of a rival party at a public meeting on April 27, ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly polls.
The Calcutta High Court had earlier extended his interim protection from coercive action in the case until October 6, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. While granting the relief, the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation and barred him from travelling abroad without its permission.
The high court had said Abhishek's plea seeking modification of the conditions imposed while granting him interim protection would be heard in August, though it did not specify a date.
While considering his request to travel abroad, the high court had earlier said it was not inclined to permit him to leave the country while the investigation was underway, pointing out that several reputed eye clinics were available in Kolkata. He has also sought quashing the FIR registered against him.
