'False' cases against BJP leaders in Bengal: SC seeks govt's reply

The top court has sought a response from the West Bengal government on the plea by the BJP leaders alleging political vendetta in the state. Petitioner leaders of BJP -- Arjun Singh, Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mukul Roy, Saurabh Singh, Pawan Kumar Singh and Kabir Shankar Bose -- alleged that the Mamta Banerjee government has "foisted false cases and unleashed a terror raj in the state".

New Delhi:A group of senior BJP leaders, Arjun Singh and Kailash Vijayavargiya got protection against arrest from the Supreme Court in connection with various cases registered against them by the West Bengal government.

The top court has sought response from the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government on the plea by the BJP leaders alleging "political vendetta unleashed by the state".

Petitioner leaders of BJP -- Arjun Singh, Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mukul Roy, Saurabh Singh, Pawan Kumar Singh and Kabir Shankar Bose -- alleged that the Mamta Banerjee government has "foisted false cases and unleashed a terror raj in the state".

The leaders insisted that cases were filed in the backdrop of state elections scheduled next year.

A bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul sought response from the state government on the allegations of BJP leaders terming these cases as a political vendetta in the backdrop of upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in the state early next year.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing BJP MP Arjun Singh, submitted before the bench that 64 cases, mostly simple offences, were registered against his client after he left the Trinamool Congress in 2019.

Rohatgi insisted that these cases were foisted on his client to stop him from conducting political work for the elections slated in February or March next year.

Vijayvargiya's counsel submitted before the bench that his client does not live in West Bengal and all cases have been foisted to stop him from visiting West Bengal.

"Issue notice...no coercive steps, till next date of hearing," said the top court.

Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for Kabir Bose argued that ever since Bose went to West Bengal, he was threatened and had to be given security. He was in Bengal on 6th December for political work when he was attacked and instead of taking action against it, the police lodged a case of Attempt to murder against him, submitted Jethmalani. He requested the court to go through the CISF report which is giving him protection.

Court has asked to place the CISF SSG Special Incident Report before them but did not grant protection from arrest to him.

The top court has listed the matter for further hearing in the second week of January.

With inputs from agenciesies