The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
Banerjee is facing an investigation over alleged intimidatory statements made during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign.
Earlier, the high court had directed the MP to appear before a medical board at the state-run SSKM Hospital on August 6 to assess his condition. However, after Banerjee expressed his unwillingness to undergo the examination, the court rejected his plea to travel overseas for treatment.
The bench, comprising Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, observed that the medical examination was necessary to determine the petitioner's condition and ascertain whether treatment abroad was required or could be adequately provided in India.
The court had earlier extended Banerjee's interim protection from coercive action until October 6 in the case while restraining him from leaving the country without prior permission.
Banerjee subsequently challenged the order before the Supreme Court. On August 3, the apex court directed the Calcutta High Court to decide his plea for permission to travel abroad expeditiously.
Opposing the petition, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumder argued that multiple criminal cases are pending against the TMC MP and that there was no medical emergency warranting treatment abroad.
During the previous hearing, Justice Bhattacharyya noted that Kolkata has several reputed eye care institutions. The court also observed that Banerjee should first be examined by the head of the ophthalmology department at SSKM Hospital, who would determine whether his condition could be treated in India.
