72-Hour Ultimatum: Suvendu Adhikari Seeks Proof From Mamata Banerjee Over Coal Scam Claim

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has sent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a legal notice, asking for proof of her coal scam allegations within 72 hours. Adhikari has warned that if Mamata Banerjee does not submit evidence within this period, he will move civil and criminal defamation proceedings against the Chief Minister.

The dispute centres on Mamata Banerjee’s recent public speech, where she claimed that funds from an alleged coal scam were channelled to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through Suvendu Adhikari. The comments were made while Mamata Banerjee addressed a gathering during protests over an Enforcement Directorate raid at the Kolkata office of I-PAC.

Suvendu Adhikari legal notice Mamata Banerjee coal scam timeline and allegations

The legal notice, issued through advocate Suryaneel Das, states that Mamata Banerjee made these accusations on 08.01.2026 and again on 09.01.2026. According to the notice, Mamata Banerjee publicly suggested that Adhikari and Amit Shah were involved in an “alleged coal scam” and claimed to possess supporting evidence, but did not display any such material.

In the notice, Adhikari describes the Chief Minister’s statements as “reckless, baseless, and wholly unsubstantiated” and alleges that Mamata Banerjee aimed to damage his public image. He has demanded that she share all documents, records, and “purported evidence” backing her charges within 72 hours, warning that he will otherwise file appropriate defamation cases in civil and criminal courts.

Suvendu Adhikari legal notice Mamata Banerjee coal scam row and political response

Adhikari also raised his objections on X, where the Leader of Opposition accused Mamata Banerjee of using these claims to distract from an active Enforcement Directorate probe. He said the comments were defamatory and politically driven, and argued that such remarks damage the quality of public debate in West Bengal and across India.

"Today, CM Mamata Banerjee, in a desperate attempt to divert attention from an ongoing ED investigation, made absolutely baseless defamatory allegations against me, linking me to an 'alleged' coal scam alongside the Hon'ble Union Home Minister. These reckless statements, laced with personal insults, were made publicly without any shred of evidence. Such unsubstantiated claims not only tarnished my reputation but also undermine the dignity of public discourse. Today, through my Advocate, I have served a Legal Notice demanding that she provide all purported evidence within 72 hours. If she fails to do so, I will pursue appropriate Civil and Criminal actions for Defamation," Adhikari's X post read.

Today, CM Mamata Banerjee, in a desperate attempt to divert attention from an ongoing ED investigation, made absolutely baseless defamatory allegations against me, linking me to an 'alleged' coal scam alongside the Hon'ble Union Home Minister.These reckless statements, laced…pic.twitter.com/bCNtb4XcW7— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB)January 9, 2026

The legal notice further claims that Mamata Banerjee’s comments form “a calculated and sinister design” to shift attention away from issues concerning Mamata Banerjee, family members, and the Trinamool Congress. It alleges that these matters are already facing public scrutiny and argues that the coal scam charge is being used as a distraction from those controversies.

"It has come to the knowledge of my client that on 08.01.2026 and again on 09.01.2026, you have made reckless, baseless, and wholly unsubstantiated allegations against my client by publicly insinuating that my client, along with the Union Home Minister of India, is involved in an alleged coal scam. You have further claimed that you are in possession of evidence in support of such allegations…On the contrary, my client states that such statements appear to be part of a calculated and sinister design to divert public attention from serious issues concerning you, your family members, and your political party, which are presently engaging public scrutiny…," the notice read.

The row escalated after Mamata Banerjee delivered a charged speech targeting the Election Commission, central agencies, Amit Shah, and Suvendu Adhikari. Speaking about alleged vote manipulation and the role of officials, Mamata Banerjee questioned the neutrality of institutions and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of forcing governments in several states, including Haryana and Bihar.

During that address, Mamata Banerjee said, "You know who is sitting in the Election Commission. He was the Cooperation Department Secretary of Amit Shah. I have no issues with that. If Gyanesh Kumar is vanishing votes, why will I stay quiet? If the voter's rights are snatched, I will snatch your rights. TMC MPs have been dragged mercilessly when they were protesting in Delhi. All the agencies have been grabbed. I challenge them that they came to power in Haryana and Bihar forcefully. In one more state, they come to power forcefully. Now they are trying to do this in Bengal. Who gets the coal scam's 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."

Mamata Banerjee also defended entering the I-PAC office while the Enforcement Directorate conducted its raid, stating that Mamata Banerjee had not broken any law. The ED action at the political consultancy’s Kolkata premises has sparked sharp reactions in the state and turned into another flashpoint between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP.

As the war of words continued, the BJP Mahila Morcha held a protest march on Friday from Rabindra Sarovar to Deshapriya Park. The demonstration targeted Mamata Banerjee over the alleged interference in the Enforcement Directorate’s raid on the I-PAC office. The protest added another visible street-level angle to the dispute around central agencies and state politics.

The legal notice from Suvendu Adhikari has now formalised the clash between the West Bengal Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition over the alleged coal scam. With Adhikari demanding documents within 72 hours and warning of defamation cases, and Mamata Banerjee standing by the public claims, the confrontation is set to move from political rallies to legal forums in the coming days.