SC rejects anticipatory bail plea of Banerjee's personal assistant

The Supreme Court of India has turned down a petition for anticipatory bail filed by Abhishek Banerjee's personal assistant, dealing a setback to the Trinamool Congress leader's legal efforts in a matter under investigation. The bench rejected the plea after hearing submissions from the West Bengal government, which was represented during proceedings by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The government's legal team contended that the personal assistant's statements in the inquiry had been evasive and inconsistent, necessitating custodial questioning to progress the investigation further. Mehta argued that detention was essential to obtain coherent and reliable testimony from the individual. The Supreme Court's decision to deny pre-arrest bail means the personal assistant now faces the prospect of arrest during the inquiry. The case marks another chapter in a series of legal challenges involving senior Trinamool Congress figures, as the party continues to contest actions initiated against its leadership at various levels of the judicial system.