Coal smuggling case: SC extends protection from arrest for Abhishek Banerjee, allows him to travel abroad

The Supreme Court has extended protection from the arrest for Abhishek Banerjee in coal smuggling case and has permitted him to travel abroad.

The Supreme Court on Monday granted further protection from arrest to Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in an alleged coal scam case. A bench, headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justice S. Ravindra Bhat extended protection from the arrest for Banerjee and also permitted him to travel abroad.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, is not likely to be arrested by the central agency now.

This was a statement made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before the top court of India on Monday, as the court prepared to adjourn the hearing on Banerjee's plea to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Banerjee, had sought adjournment of the hearing by one day, citing personal difficulty. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who was representing the ED, informed the court that "there is no urgency" for the hearing to be taken up.

"Protection from arrest orders has already been passed earlier. If they want to travel abroad they can inform the court and get permission," said the SG.

"The challenge in the Abhishek Banerjee case is on the grounds that he should not be called to Delhi. He is not being called to Delhi. He's being questioned in Kolkata," the SG added.

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