A special court for MP/MLA in Calcutta on Friday ordered Union home minister Amit Shah to appear before it personally or through a representative at 10am on February 22 to clarify on what basis he had made “defamatory” remarks against Trinamul MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The court issued the order on a petition by Banerjee seeking penal measures against Shah for making “untrue and defamatory” remarks against him at a public rally in 2018. The Diamond Harbour MP also claimed that Shah’s remarks had tarnished his image as well as that of Trinamul.

Speaking at the rally in Calcutta on August 11, 2018, Shah had allegedly linked Banerjee to deposit collection scams. In the same month, Banerjee lodged the defamation petition which came for hearing on Friday.

Shah will have to either come to the court personally or send his representative or he has the option to move Calcutta High Court to challenge the order. The state legal cell of the BJP said the party was yet to decide on the future course of action.

BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya, however, said the case would be fought legally and in the court of the people.

Trinamul Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said: “Now, Shah should come to court with proper documents to prove that Abhishek Banerjee was involved in activities as claimed by the Union home minister. If he fails, the people of Bengal would not spare him.”