Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed police to file an FIR against the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, for allegedly saying that a violent situation ought to be created to trigger central intervention in Bengal.

In an order last year, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the high court had restrained the police from taking any coercive action against Adhikari in any case. Justice Mantha had also said prior approval of the court was required to lodge an FIR against the BJP leader.

However, on Thursday, a division bench headed by Justice I.P. Mukerji allowed the police to lodge an FIR against Adhikari in a particular case but made it clear that prior approval of the high court was needed before taking any coercive action against him.

Moving a petition on behalf of petitioner Suman Singh, advocate Saptangshu Basu produced various documents as “proof” of Adhikari inciting people to create violence and commit murders in the state. Showing a video clip, the lawyer said: “Here, the Opposition leader is asking people to create a situation for the Centre to invoke Article 355.”