Calcutta HC to hear Abhishek’s plea on voice sample case on Friday

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday fixed Friday for the hearing of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s pleas challenging notices directing him to provide a voice sample in connection with the alleged “DJ remark” case.

During the mention, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya asked Banerjee’s counsel, “You (Abhishek) comply with the notices.

”Banerjee’s counsel sought an urgent hearing, pointing out that a Bidhannagar court rescheduled the collection of Banerjee’s voice sample for July 8 and requested the high court to take up the matter before then and argued that there was apprehension of coercive action if Banerjee failed to provide the sample.Justice Bhattacharyya, however, declined to list the matter on Wednesday, observing, “You already enjoy protection. It cannot be taken up on Wednesday.” The court instead fixed the hearing for Friday.Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Mazumder submitted that Banerjee was granted protection on the condition that he cooperate with the investigation. He argued that despite the investigating officer seeking a voice sample as part of the probe, Banerjee did not comply with the notices.

“Unless voice samples are collected, how do we compare the voices?” the AAG told the court.The Bidhannagar court fixed July 8 for collection of Banerjee’s voice sample, while the HC will hear his plea on Friday.Kolkata: Calcutta High Court will hear the issue of the TMC general secretary being asked to give a voice sample in connection with the “DJ remark” case on Friday; the judge on Tuesday told Banerjee’s counsel, “You (Abhishek) comply with the notices.”Bidhannagar court rescheduled the date of collecting voice samples for July 8. Banerjee’s counsel urged the HC to hear the case on July 8. But Justice Bhattacharyya verbally asked Banerjee’s counsel to comply with all notices.Banerjee’s counsel on Tuesday mentioned before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya for an urgent hearing of the case. His repeated submissions were that there was fear that the cops may take coercive action against Banerjee for not giving voice samples and hence the case needed to be heard urgently.Justice Bhattacharyya told the counsel, “You already enjoy protection. It cannot be taken up on Wednesday.” The Additional Advocate General, Rajdeep Mazumder, submitted that Abhishek Banerjee was given protection on the condition that he shall cooperate with the investigation. But now when the investigating officer, for the purpose of investigation, wants a voice sample, the same is not complied with, AAG told the court.“Unless voice samples are collected, how do we compare the voices,” AAG said. Justice Bhattacharyya during the mention said that the matter will be taken up for hearing on Friday.