Delhi court summons TMC leaders O’Brien, Ghose, Gokhale in 2024 protest case

A Delhi court on Monday, 21 April, summoned TMC leaders Derek O'Brien, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhle and other party functionaries for holding a protest in front of the Election Commission of India despite a prohibitory order in April 2024.

Additional chief judicial magistrate Neha Mittal also summoned TMC leaders Santanu Sen, Dola Sen, Nadimul Haque, Vivek Gupta, Arpita Ghosh, Abir Ranjan Bishwas and Sudip Raha to appear on 30 April.

Delhi Police alleged that on 8 April last year, the accused persons gathered outside the main gate of Election Commission of India (ECI) and started protesting with placards and banners without a requisite permission and despite the fact that Section 144 (prohibit gathering) of Code of Criminal Procedure was in place.

The police alleged they continued to protest despite warning on the imposition of Section 144 following which an FIR was registered.

"I have perused the chargesheet as well as the complaint... I take cognisance of the offences punishable under Section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant) 145 (unlawful assembly) and 34 (common intention) IPC. All the accused persons be summoned through IO for 30 April 2025," the court ordered.

The TMC leaders held the protest against central probe agencies CBI, NIA, ED and the income tax department and demanded their chiefs be changed.

A 10-member delegation of the TMC had announced the protest after meeting a full bench of the ECI to press their demand.

The party alleged the central probe agencies were targeting opposition parties at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.