07.10.2026 09 Court No. 05 (DL) (Suvendu Mukherjee) IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA Constitutional Writ Jurisdiction (APPELLATE SIDE) WPA 26131 of 2026 Sonu Kumar Shaw –Versus – The State of West Bengal & Ors. Mr. Suvadip Bhattacharjee Mr. Sujan Chatterjee ….for the petitioner Mr. Billwadal Bhattacharyya, Ld. AAG Mr. Raj Mohan Chattoraj Mr. Tamaghna Pramanick …for the State respondents Mr. Pritam Majumdar Mr. Subhajit Purkait …for the private respondents 1) Affidavit of service filed on behalf of petitioner is taken on record. 2) By presenting this writ petition, prayer is made for granting witness protection since trial is going on before the court below. In support of such contention, it is submitted by learned advocate representing petitioner that previously similar protection was granted in terms of order dated 17th June, 2022 passed by a coordinate Bench on a writ petition being WPA 10163 of 2022 preferred by petitioner. 3) Mr. Bhattacharyya, learned Additional Advocate General representing State respondents submits that 2 Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone), Barrackpore Police Commissionerate is the appropriate authority to take a call for extending benefit to petitioner under the witness protection scheme, if approach is made by petitioner on submitting representation and if petitioner is found to be eligible. 4) It appears that vide order dated 17th June, 2022 passed on writ petition being WPA 10163 of 2022, coordinate Bench directed police authorities to continue to give protection to petitioner taking note of submission made on behalf of State respondents that police authorities on their own had given protection to the petitioner under the scheme. 5) Be that as it may, if petitioner wants to avail benefit under the witness protection scheme he is at liberty to make a representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone), Barrackpore Police Commissionerate by seven days from date seeking benefit of witness protection. If application is made by petitioner before the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone), Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, same shall be decided in accordance with law after granting opportunity of hearing to petitioner by fortnight thereafter. At the time of deliberation, petitioner shall be at liberty to rely upon relevant documents including order passed by the coordinate Bench. 6) Liberty is granted to learned advocate for petitioner to amend cause-title of writ petition and array Deputy 3 Commissioner of Police (Central Zone), Barrackpore Police Commissionerate as additional respondent in course of this day. However, service of notice upon additional respondent stands dispensed with since State respondents are represented by learned Additional Advocate General. 7) Writ petition stands disposed of. 8) Parties to act on server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court. (Saugata Bhattacharyya, J.)