Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, has moved an Alipore court with a criminal defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, escalating a long-running political confrontation into a legal battle with significant financial and political implications. The senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party has sought damages of Rs 100 crore, alleging that the chief minister made defamatory statements linking him to the alleged coal scam without evidence.In a public statement issued on Friday, Adhikari said the allegations levelled against him were “vile and imaginary” and had caused serious damage to his personal reputation and public standing. He confirmed that the complaint was filed before a court in Alipore, a jurisdiction that frequently hears high-profile civil and criminal matters involving political figures from the state. According to him, the case seeks legal redress for what he described as a sustained attempt to malign his image through repeated public insinuations.
The suit marks a fresh chapter in the bitter rivalry between Adhikari and Banerjee, once political allies within the Trinamool Congress before Adhikari’s defection to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections. Since then, Adhikari has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Banerjee government, regularly targeting it over allegations of corruption, administrative failures and law-and-order concerns in the state.
At the centre of the present dispute are statements made by Banerjee in political speeches and public forums where she has alluded to Adhikari’s alleged involvement in irregularities linked to coal mining and transportation in parts of eastern India. The alleged coal scam has been under scrutiny by central investigative agencies, with multiple arrests and chargesheets filed against various individuals over time. Adhikari has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has accused the ruling party of using corruption allegations as a political weapon.
Legal experts note that criminal defamation cases involving elected representatives tend to hinge on whether the contested statements can be shown to have been made with malice and without factual basis. Adhikari’s claim for Rs 100 crore in damages underscores the seriousness with which he is pursuing the matter, signalling that the case is intended not merely as a symbolic gesture but as a substantive legal challenge to the chief minister’s remarks.
Banerjee, who leads the Trinamool Congress and serves as chief minister for a third consecutive term, has not issued an immediate formal response to the filing. Her party, however, has in the past dismissed defamation threats from opposition leaders as attempts to divert attention from investigations and accountability. Senior Trinamool figures have repeatedly argued that questions around the coal scam stem from findings and actions by investigative agencies rather than political rhetoric alone.
The defamation suit also has wider political ramifications in a state where confrontations between the ruling party and the principal opposition have increasingly moved beyond electoral arenas into courtrooms. Leaders across party lines have resorted to litigation over allegations, speeches and social media posts, reflecting a broader trend of legal escalation in political disputes.
Adhikari’s position as Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly gives additional weight to the case, as it frames the issue not just as a personal grievance but as a matter concerning the dignity of a constitutional office-holder. In his statement, he asserted that unchecked allegations against opposition leaders undermine democratic debate and set a dangerous precedent.