Kolkata, May 14, 2026 – Tense scenes erupted at the Calcutta High Court premises today as former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee was greeted with loud protests and slogans during her visit.
Banerjee, dressed in a lawyer’s gown, had appeared in court in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning alleged post-poll violence against TMC workers following the recent Assembly elections, in which her party suffered a significant defeat.
As she moved through the court premises, particularly while entering and exiting the courtroom, a group of lawyers raised strong slogans against her, including repeated chants of “Chor Chor” (Thief! Thief!), “Jihadi”, and “Bangladeshi”. The protests created a charged atmosphere, prompting heavy security deployment and leading to verbal exchanges between Banerjee’s supporters and the protesting lawyers.
TMC leaders, including senior MP Kalyan Banerjee, strongly condemned the incident. They alleged that the protests were orchestrated by lawyers sympathetic to the BJP and claimed that Mamata Banerjee faced attempts at heckling and intimidation. The party described the episode as an attack on democratic norms and judicial dignity.
The incident has rapidly gone viral on social media, with multiple videos circulating that capture the slogans and the ensuing tension inside the court complex. It underscores the deep political divisions and heightened anti-incumbency sentiments in West Bengal in the aftermath of the elections.
This is not the first time Mamata Banerjee has faced legal and political challenges in the High Court, as several cases related to her government and party continue to be heard by the judiciary.
The Calcutta High Court administration has not issued any official statement on the protests so far.
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