West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced chants of "chor chor" as she left the Calcutta High Court on Thursday [1].

The incident highlights the intense political friction surrounding allegations of post-poll violence in the state. The slogans serve as a public manifestation of the legal and political battles currently playing out in the judiciary.

Banerjee appeared at the court wearing a lawyer's gown for a hearing regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning post-poll violence [1], [3]. As she exited the courtroom, protesters gathered outside the building to shout "chor," which translates to "thief" in Hindi and Bengali [1], [2].

Reports indicate the group of protesters included lawyers allegedly aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [2], [3]. The slogans were directed at the Chief Minister to criticize her administration's handling of the violence case and to portray her as a thief [2], [3].

Security personnel were present at the scene as Banerjee departed the premises. The protest occurred immediately following the proceedings of the PIL, which seeks accountability for violence that broke out after recent elections [3].

This confrontation marks another instance of high-profile political tension manifesting within the perimeter of the state's highest judicial body. The use of such slogans during a court appearance underscores the deep polarization between the ruling party in West Bengal and the opposition [2].

“Chants of "chor chor" were raised outside the Calcutta High Court”

The incident reflects the volatile nature of West Bengal's political climate, where judicial proceedings over post-poll violence often spill over into public demonstrations. By targeting the Chief Minister at the court exit, opposition-aligned figures are leveraging the visibility of the legal process to damage her public image and signal a lack of confidence in the state's executive leadership.