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Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Diamond Harbor MP Abhishek Banerjee has received a major legal setback from the Calcutta High Court on Monday, July 20. The High Court rejected his petition to go abroad for eye treatment. Making a scathing comment, the court directed that Banerjee would first have to get her eyes thoroughly examined by specialist doctors at the prestigious government SSKM Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The court made it clear that permission for his foreign travel would be considered only after the detailed report of the government medical board comes. Hearing in Hate Speech Case: Strict stance of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya’s bench. This important decision was given by the single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya during the hearing of the petition, which is to the case of allegedly giving inflammatory and hate speeches during the campaign of West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. During the hearing, Abhishek Banerjee’s lawyer argued that it was necessary for the MP to go abroad immediately for special eye treatment. However, Justice Bhattacharya flatly refused to give direct approval without medical examination and directed to constitute an expert board in the largest government hospital of the state. Treatment has been going on in America for 10 years, yet why did the court ask for the opinion of the medical board? Justice Bhattacharya asked a direct question to the petitioner’s lawyer whether any Indian ophthalmology expert was consulted before approaching the court. On this, the lawyer clarified that Banerjee has been getting his eyes treated in America continuously for the last 10 years. Taking this fact on record, the court reiterated that before permission to travel to foreign soil is given, it is mandatory to be examined by the country’s own government medical system. The court ordered the Head of Ophthalmology Department of SSKM Hospital to immediately form a board of experts and submit the report. Strong opposition from the state government: Expressed fear of the investigation being affected. Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, appearing on behalf of the West Bengal government, strongly opposed Abhishek Banerjee’s foreign travel petition. He informed the bench that several other important legal cases including alleged hate speech are pending against the TMC MP. Allowing permission to go abroad at this sensitive juncture may cause hindrances to the investigating agencies in collecting legal documents and interrogation. After hearing the heated debate from both the sides, the High Court made it clear that there will be a complete ban on foreign travel until the report of the medical board comes. Interim relief given from arrest: Police action stopped till October. On one hand, the application to go abroad for treatment was rejected, on the other hand, the High Court has also provided a big interim relief to Abhishek Banerjee in the legal process. The court has extended till October the stay on any kind of harsh or punitive police action (such as arrest) against the MP in the alleged hate speech case. However, the judge warned that the benefit of relief would be available only if Banerjee fully cooperates in the investigation process. The next hearing of the case will be in August 2026, where the SSKM medical board will submit its final report.