Supreme Court Judge recuses from Bengal post-poll violence case

Supreme Court judge – Justice Indira Banerjee – has withdrawn herself from the post-poll violence case in West Bengal. The allegations in the case is that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers were killed in violence following the elections and results of the Assembly polls in the state. Results of the elections – in which the Trinamool Congress won in a landslide victory for the third term – were out on May 2. Justice Banerjee – who has recused herself from the case – is from Kolkata.

Families of the victims who were allegedly killed in the violence have moved court seeking probe by the Central agency – the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The apex court asked the Bengal government to reply in the case, and the state has said that the petitions were “politically motivated”. The Bengal government wanted the petitions dismissed, adding that every act of violence after elections cannot be termed as “post-poll violence”. The Bengal government also told the apex court that three people have been arrested in connection with the alleged killing of two BJP workers. Two gang-rape survivors have also appealed for a Special Investigation Team or the CBI to probe their cases.

The BJP has alleged that after the Trinamool’s victory, the former’s supporters have been attacked and killed by the Trinamool supporters and workers. They also said that the party’s women members were attacked and houses of BJP supporters were vandalised.

Due to Justice Banerjee’s withdrawal, the case will now be sent to another bench.