Adhikari vs. Banerjee: Legal Battle Erupts as Defamation Deadline Expires
Overview of the Conflict
The political climate in West Bengal reached a boiling point today, January 15, 2026, as Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari declared he will proceed with legal action against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Following the expiration of the defamation notice deadline issued by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regarding her claims of the LoP’s ‘involvement’ in the coal smuggling case, which concluded on Wednesday, Adhikari will now proceed with legal action.
The Chief Minister, by her conduct, has made it clear that her imaginary allegations of me being involved in a coal scam were a product of her insalubrious mindset. Get ready to face legal consequences in the Court. Mamata Banerjee, now I will see you in Court,” said Adhikari in a statement that he posted on his social media handle X in the morning.
Adhikari’s defamation notice to the Chief Minister through her conduct has made it clear that her unfounded allegations of my involvementas amid her public statements in the last few days, that “the proceeds of the coal smuggling cases in West Bengal reached the level of the Union Home Minister through Adhikari and Bharatiya Janata Party state vice president, Jagannath Chattopadhyay”.
Last week, controversies shrouded the Enforcement Directorate’s parallel raid and search operations in relation to the coal smuggling case at the Indian Political Action Committee’s office in the Salt Lake area on the northern outskirts of Kolkata and I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence on Loudon Street in Central Kolkata.
Proceeds from a coal smuggling network were routed through Suvendu Adhikari.
4 These funds eventually reached Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
5 She claimed to possess "pen drives" and other evidence substantiating these claims.
"Mamata Banerjee seems to be at her wits' end... the time given to her has now expired.6 Get ready to face legal consequences in court. I will see you in court."
— Suvendu Adhikari on X (formerly Twitter)
Key Details of the Legal Notice
Notice Date: Served on Friday, January 9, 2026. During public rallies on January 8 and 9, 2026, Banerjee claimed the proceeds of coal smuggling were routed through Adhikari to the Home Minister.
Deadline: 72 hours (Expired Wednesday, January 14).Adhikari announced he will proceed with formal court action against Mamata Banerjee for allegedly linking him and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a coal smuggling scam.
Legal Representation: Advocate Suryaneel Das. Adhikari’s notice demanded solid evidence for these "reckless and baseless" claims. Having received no reply by the Wednesday deadline, Adhikari declared, "Now I will see you in Court".
The Demand: Adhikari demanded a public apology or the production of all materials/documents supporting the "reckless and baseless" claims.
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These events coincide with heightened tensions following the Enforcement Directorate Political Reaction and Context
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has largely dismissed the threat. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh suggested that Adhikari’s actions stem from "frustration" and internal pressure within the BJP.
Simultaneously, the ED has moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the state government’s alleged "obstruction" during the I-PAC raids, suggesting that this legal battle is just one front in a much larger confrontation.
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