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According to Counsel victimisation and harassment by the State had begun immediately after the petitioner changed political allegiance in December 2020 and intensified after the Assembly elections in May 2021. The State fired the first salvo against the petitioner by removing his existing security cover. The petitioner approached this Court. Pursuant to an order dated 2nd July, 2021 passed in WPA 11803 of 2021 (Suvendu Adhikari Vs. State of West Bengal and Ors) a Coordinate Bench had directed that the Z category security arrangements as per the Yellow Book of the Govt. of West Bengal to be restored and continued to him.

a) The petitioner was found eligible for Z category security cover, while he was a Member of a political party which is now in power of the State, is suddenly found disentitled thereto, since after change of political allegiance and after the Assembly Elections on 2nd July, 2021. A Coordinator Bench has prima facie found in favour of the petitioner and against the State in this regard albeit at an interlocutory stage.

b) Well-over 7-8 and in some cases 13 consecutive FIRs have been registered against the associates since after the recent assembly elections.