Legal Pressure Mounts as Court Revives Arrest Warrant Proceedings Against Abhishek Banerjee

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday lifted an interim stay on the execution of an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in a defamation case, marking a setback for the senior party leader and reviving legal proceedings in a case originating from remarks made during a political rally in 2020. The order was passed by Justice Pramod Kumar Agarwal, who dismissed Banerjee’s petition and vacated the earlier stay granted in November 2025 on the execution of the warrant issued by a special MP-MLA court in Bhopal.

With the latest ruling, the legal restraint on the arrest warrant has effectively been removed, allowing the lower court process to proceed. The defamation case was filed in 2021 by former Indore MLA Akash Vijayvargiya, who is the son of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. The complaint alleges that Banerjee referred to Akash Vijayvargiya as a “goon” during a public rally held in Kolkata in November 2020, a statement that the complainant claims damaged his reputation.

Following the issuance of the arrest warrant by the MP-MLA court, Banerjee had approached the High Court arguing that, as a sitting Member of Parliament, he was unlikely to abscond and therefore did not warrant coercive action. Acting on this plea, the High Court had earlier stayed the execution of the warrant on November 12 last year, temporarily halting further proceedings in the matter. However, during Wednesday’s hearing, the court noted that no one appeared on behalf of the petitioner.  Observing the absence, the bench remarked that it appeared the petitioner had lost interest in pursuing the case. The court then proceeded to vacate the interim relief and dismiss the petition.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Speaker Seeks Abhishek Banerjee’s Response In TMC Split Row

The court also directed that a copy of its order be sent to the trial court in Bhopal, enabling further legal steps in accordance with procedure.  The development is expected to intensify scrutiny around Banerjee’s ongoing legal challenges, as he is also linked to separate investigations being conducted by central agencies. The case adds to a broader pattern of legal and political confrontations involving opposition leaders, where defamation proceedings and criminal complaints have increasingly become part of high-profile political disputes. Further proceedings in the matter are expected to continue before the MP-MLA court.

Also Read: Abhishek Banerjee Questioned Amid TMC Crisis, Om Birla Oversees Grilling Process