The Calcutta High Court has held Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh and seven protestors guilty of criminal contempt for acts linked to demonstrations outside the High Court in April 2025. The three-judge Special Bench ruled that the protest and subsequent public statements amounted to interference with the administration of justice and an attack on the dignity of the judiciary.
Background of the Case
The contempt proceedings were initiated suo motu after several advocates and a law student submitted affidavits alleging that a group of protestors assembled near the Calcutta High Court on April 25, 2025. According to the complaints, the protestors blocked roads, intimidated advocates, shouted slogans against a sitting judge, displayed and trampled photographs of the judge, and allegedly attempted to influence ongoing judicial proceedings related to teacher recruitment cases.
The Chief Justice constituted a Special Bench comprising Justice Arijit Banerjee, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj to hear the matter. The Bench issued notices to the alleged contemnors and sought reports from the Kolkata Police before hearing the case over several months.
The Bench observed that courts exist to uphold the rule of law and public confidence in the justice delivery system. It held that criticism of judicial orders is permissible within legal limits, but attributing improper motives to judges or attempting to pressure the court through public demonstrations crosses those limits.
The judgment stated,
“The acts and conduct of the alleged contemnors lowered or tended to lower the majesty of the Court and sanctity of Court orders thereby interfering with the administration of justice.”
With respect to the seven protestors, the Court noted that they had admitted participating in the protest and had offered unconditional apologies. However, the Bench found that the explanations based on frustration over delayed appointments could not justify actions that targeted the judiciary.
The Court observed,
“One cannot justify an act of contempt of Court by saying that he was overtaken by his emotions.”
Regarding Kunal Ghosh, the Bench examined his press conference held a day after the protest. Although he argued that he was not present at the protest site and that his remarks were made in a political capacity, the Court concluded that his statements suggested bias on the part of the judge and undermined public confidence in the judicial process.
The Bench further observed,
“True apology and justification of the contemptuous act cannot go hand in hand.”
The High Court held the seven protestors guilty of criminal contempt but, considering the overall circumstances, imposed a fine of ₹1,000 each instead of imprisonment.
Kunal Ghosh was also found guilty of criminal contempt. The Court rejected his apology, holding that it was not genuine because it was accompanied by an attempt to justify his conduct. It imposed the maximum statutory fine of ₹2,000, directing that it be paid within four weeks. In default of payment, he would undergo three days' simple imprisonment.
The Bench also refused Ghosh's request to stay the operation of the judgment.
Case Details
Case Title: Court on its own motion v. Raju Das & Ors.
Case Number: CRLCP 5 of 2025 with CRLCP 6 of 2025 and CRLCP 7 of 2025
Judges: Justice Arijit Banerjee, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj
Decision Date: 13 July 2026
