In a dramatic escalation of political hostilities in West Bengal, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has served a legal notice on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The notice demands she provide concrete evidence to support her public allegations linking him and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a coal scam. Adhikari has given a 72-hour ultimatum, failing which he has threatened to initiate both civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the Trinamool Congress supremo.
The Legal Ultimatum and Specific Allegations
The legal notice, dispatched through advocate Suryaneel Das on Friday evening, references public statements made by Banerjee on January 8 and 9, 2026. In those addresses, the Chief Minister had insinuated the involvement of Adhikari and Shah in an "alleged coal scam," claiming she possessed evidence but without presenting any. The notice categorically labels these accusations as "reckless, baseless, and wholly unsubstantiated."
It further demands that Banerjee share all documents, records, and purported evidence backing her charges within the stipulated three-day period. The legal communication argues that the Chief Minister's comments were part of a "calculated and sinister design" intended to divert public attention from controversies surrounding her, her family members, and the Trinamool Congress party itself.
Context: Mamata Banerjee's Explosive Speech
The notice follows a fiery speech by Mamata Banerjee where she launched a broadside against several entities, including the Election Commission and central investigative agencies. She specifically targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Suvendu Adhikari with direct allegations of financial misconduct.
"Who gets the coal scam money? Amit Shah gets it. The money goes through Suvendu Adhikari. The money goes through BJP leader Jagannath Chattopadhyay to Suvendu Adhikari. Suvendu Adhikari sends it to Amit Shah," Banerjee had alleged in her public address. She also criticized Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he was "vanishing votes" and vowed to retaliate if voters' rights were snatched.
Political Repercussions and Next Steps
This legal move marks a significant hardening of the political battle in the state. By opting for the judicial route, Adhikari has sought to counter what he calls a smear campaign. The notice explicitly states that the coal scam allegation is being used as a distraction from existing controversies facing the ruling party, which are already under public scrutiny.
The ball is now in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's court. Her response, or lack thereof, within the 72-hour window will determine whether this political duel moves from public rallies and press conferences to the corridors of the courtroom. The development underscores the intensely personal and acrimonious nature of the rivalry between the BJP's principal face in Bengal and the sitting Chief Minister.
This incident occurs alongside other legal tussles involving the Trinamool Congress, including counter petitions filed by the party and the Enforcement Directorate in the Calcutta High Court concerning raids on the I-PAC consultancy group.
