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Proceedings Used As Online Tool In Political Campaign: Trinamool In Court
A Supreme Court hearing on April 23, 2026, saw courtroom proceedings becoming a focal point of political campaigning on social media. Menaka Guruswamy and Tushar Mehta sparred over mandamus and references to the 'crown' while a clip circulated online, with the ED seeking a CBI probe related to the I-PAC raid.
Why It Matters
The episode illustrates how legal proceedings can be leveraged for political messaging, highlighting the intersection of law, media, and electoral campaigning.
Timeline
9 Events
April 23, 2026 — Court had previously disapproved of CM's actions during I-PAC raid
April 23, 2026
The Supreme Court had previously disapproved of the Chief Minister's actions during the I-PAC raid, stating she had put democracy in jeopardy.
April 23, 2026 — ED case: Mamata Banerjee accused of taking away evidence
April 23, 2026
The Enforcement Directorate's case contends that Mamata Banerjee took away paper and digital evidence from the raid scene.
April 23, 2026 — Guruswamy says proceedings are being used as a social media weapon
April 23, 2026
Guruswamy told the court that all submissions are being used as a social media weapon in a political campaign.
April 23, 2026 — Clip misused to allege court rebuke
April 23, 2026
Amit Malviya used the clip to allege that the court questioned 'who is the queen,' implying a sharp rebuke to Mamata Banerjee.
April 23, 2026 — Mandamus and crown exchange in court
April 23, 2026
Guruswamy argued that mandamus does not lie against the crown and quoted that there can be no mandamus to the sovereign; Mehta questioned who the 'queen' was, stating that in a democracy nobody is a crown.
April 23, 2026 — Guruswamy objects to Malviya post as 'abuse' of court proceedings
April 23, 2026
Guruswamy raised sharp objections to Malviya's post, calling it an 'abuse' of court proceedings and noting that the post misrepresented her submissions.
April 23, 2026 — Video clip posted on X about 'Queen' remark
April 23, 2026
A video clip of the exchange between Menaka Guruswamy and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was posted on X by BJP's Amit Malviya, suggesting Mamata Banerjee's lawyer had referred to her as 'Queen.'
April 23, 2026 — Phase 1 voting in Bengal underway as hearing proceeds
April 23, 2026
As the case was being heard in New Delhi, Phase 1 voting in Bengal was underway.
January 2026 — ED seeks CBI probe in I-PAC raid case
January 2026
The Enforcement Directorate filed a writ petition seeking a CBI probe against Mamata Banerjee and senior officials who accompanied her when she walked into the midst of an ongoing raid at the I-PAC premises in Kolkata in January.