Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was served a notice by Delhi Police under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) at her residence, while Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Paresh Ram Das, representing Canning Paschim, was arrested on Monday, November 9, 2026, at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. Although the two developments concern separate cases, they have brought the TMC under renewed political and legal scrutiny, raising questions about accountability and the party's handling of leaders facing investigations.
Mamata Banerjee's Notice: A 13-Year-Old Case Resurfaces
A Delhi Police team, accompanied by personnel from Kolkata's Kalighat Police Station, served Banerjee the notice, asking her to participate in an investigation as a witness, not as an accused. The case was registered at Parliament Street Police Station on April 9, 2013.
It relates to an incident near Yojana Bhavan, the then Planning Commission headquarters, during Banerjee's visit to Delhi with former state Finance Minister Amit Mitra.
At the time, Students' Federation of India (SFI) activists were protesting the custodial death of an SFI functionary in Kolkata. The protesters allegedly surrounded the visiting delegation, during which Mitra was reportedly manhandled and Banerjee fell ill, requiring oxygen support.
The FIR invoked provisions relating to:
· Obstruction and assault against public servants.
· Voluntarily causing hurt.
· Rioting and unlawful assembly.
· Common intention.
Police have maintained that Banerjee is being summoned because she was part of the complainant's side. The notice also allows her to meet the investigating officer at a location of her choice.
Paresh Ram Das Arrested: Serious Criminal Allegations
In a separate development, Canning Paschim MLA Paresh Ram Das was arrested at Kolkata airport by the Baruipur District Police's Special Operations Group, assisted by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.
Police reportedly acted on intelligence that he was planning to travel to Mumbai and described him as absconding.
He faces allegations involving rape, extortion and post-poll violence. In Case No. 561/2026, registered at Canning Police Station on September 5, the charges include:
· Section 376: Rape.
· Section 323: Voluntarily causing hurt.
· Section 420: Cheating.
· Section 120B: Criminal conspiracy.
· Section 506: Criminal intimidation.
Das was expected to be produced before a court on November 10. His arrest triggered political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the circumstances while TMC representatives raised concerns about the evidence and police action. The allegations remain subject to judicial examination.
Two Cases, Different Legal Implications
The developments are legally distinct. Banerjee has been called as a witness in an old protest-related case, whereas Das faces arrest in connection with serious criminal allegations. Treating the two proceedings as equivalent would therefore be misleading.
Political Accountability Must Follow Due Process
The immediate focus will be Banerjee's response to the notice, the progress of the 2013 investigation and the court proceedings involving Das. Together, these developments put the TMC's political leadership and organisational accountability under scrutiny. However, political controversy must not replace legal assessment. The credibility of the institutions involved will ultimately depend on impartial investigation, credible evidence and due process, irrespective of political position or influence.
(With agency inputs)
