There is no impropriety in a sitting High Court judge resigning and joining a political party, former judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay insisted to NDTV today in an exclusive interview.

Mr Gangopadhyay – who made headlines with his rulings and has had run-ins with lawyers, judges, and senior leaders from Bengal’s ruling Trinamool – quit the Calcutta High Court Tuesday afternoon.

Hours later he confirmed what was known – he will join the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

This evening he told NDTV his swift career change had been triggered by “insulting remarks from Trinamool persons… when I was discover huge corruption and trying to justice”.

“My resignation is the result of insulting remarks by Trinamool persons against me… when I was trying to do justice as I was exploring and discovering huge corruption in education appointments – school teachers and employees in different schools – in the state,” Mr Gangopadhyay said.

“When I passed orders for the CBI to investigate, they started making insulting comments against me… not the judgement, but personal attacks,” he continued, attacking his critics. “These Trinamool people are almost half-educated… do not know what to say to a judge, but they challenged me.”

“They challenged me to come to politics,” he said, “So I started thinking… I got some impetus from them. So now the time has come to stand beside large number of helpless people of our state.”

READ | Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay Resigns, To Join BJP

Mr Gangopadhyay was pressed on the question of propriety; it was pointed to him that it was unprecedented for a sitting judge to resign and immediately join a political party, particularly when several of his rulings seemed to side against that party’s apparent rival, i.e., the Trinamool.

“No. Not at all. What bad precedent? No… this is Trinamool persons trying to get out of facing corruption charges by raising this question, when they know many leaders, some in jail and some who will be arrested, will be convicted. These are worthless, meaningless questions.”

Mr Gangopadhyay also laughed off questions from political and legal analysts, declaring, “Tell analysts to gain knowledge about politics and legal theories…”

READ | From Courts To Votes: Abhijit Gangopadhyay And His Controversies

He said talks with the BJP had begun “recently… only three-four days (ago)”, and stressed, “From the time I started thinking about politics I have not done any adjudication. I took leave from my court and, thereafter, I resigned,” he explained. Mr Gangopadhyay is expected to join the BJP on Thursday.

He told NDTV he had decided to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party because it is a “good platform in Bengal, when no other parties have influence… even CPM or Congress. BJP has potential and is raising some issues that will go hand-in-hand with people of Bengal.”

The former judge did not, however, comment on speculation he could get a Lok Sabha ticket.

There has been talk he could be fielded from the Tamluk constituency, which has been won by the Trinamool in each of the past three elections. “Question of Lok Sabha seat will be decided by the party. I didn’t join for election and I have no business in making these comments,” he said.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

The highly praised film All of Us Strangers, featuring Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott, is an adaptation of Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel Strangers. Originally, the novel was adapted into the 1988 Japanese film The Discarnates. However, the new adaptation, directed by Andrew Haigh, takes the story from Tokyo to London, showcasing Haigh’s creative vision.

The director said “Adapting the book was a long and sometimes painful process. I wanted to pick away at my own past as Adam does in the film. I was interested in exploring the complexities of both familial and romantic love, but also the distinct experience of a specific generation of gay people growing up in the 80s. I wanted to move away from the traditional ghost story of the novel and find something more psychological, almost metaphysical.” Yamada and his family were incredibly respectful of Haigh’s vision. 

Andrew Haigh, renowned for his poignant portrayals of human relationships in movies such as Weekend and 45 Years, brings his unique style to All of Us Strangers. The story revolves around Adam, a screenwriter dealing with past grief, portrayed by Andrew Scott. Adam’s life undergoes a transformation when he encounters his neighbour Harry, played by Paul Mescal, disrupting his solitary life. 

Janhvi Kapoor recently celebrated her birthday with a visit to the Tirumala temple, where she was joined by her rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya and her friend Orry. The actress looked stunning in a traditional saree paired with an orange blouse, while Shikhar and Orry were dressed in white veshtis.

This isn’t the first time Janhvi has visited Tirumala; she has made several visits to the temple on various occasions and events, showcasing her devotion and reverence.

At 27, Janhvi Kapoor is a rising star in Bollywood with a promising career ahead. She has some exciting projects in the pipeline, including Devara opposite Jr NTR and RC16 opposite Ram Charan. The announcement of her joining the cast of RC16 was recently made by the makers, adding to the anticipation surrounding the film.