The Calcutta High Court issued an interim order on Sunday, July 19, to halt the demolition of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office [1].
The ruling provides a legal reprieve for the politician amid a broader state government campaign against unauthorized constructions. The clash between administrative enforcement and political leadership highlights the tension surrounding land use and regulatory compliance in West Bengal.
Demolition actions at the office, located on the Amtala-Baruipur road in the South 24 Parganas district, began on Saturday, July 18 [2]. The state government's anti-encroachment drive targeted the building under allegations that it was an unauthorized construction [3].
Banerjee challenged the move in court, which resulted in the stay order on July 19 [1]. The court's decision ensures that no further demolition takes place until the end of July 2026 [4], pending the submission of further documentation from the state government [3].
Banerjee said the actions were "theft in uniform" [5]. He said the demolition attempt was linked to political motivations and the influence of BJP operatives [3].
The office serves as a key operational hub for the MP in the Amtala region. The court's intervention effectively pauses the state's ability to clear the site until the legal merits of the construction permits are reviewed.
“"theft in uniform"”
This judicial intervention prevents the immediate destruction of a political asset while shifting the burden of proof to the state government. By requiring further documentation, the court is verifying whether the anti-encroachment drive was applied uniformly or used as a tool for political targeting, which is a common point of contention in West Bengal's regional politics.
