Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared at Bhawanipore police station in Kolkata on Saturday after being summoned over a social media post targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Gujarati community.
Banerjee reached the police station at around 12.23 pm, ahead of the 12.30 pm deadline set by the police. The complaint concerns a post on his X account in which he allegedly described Gyanesh Kumar as a “puppet of the anti-Bengal Gujarati gang”.
The complaint was filed at Bhawanipore police station on May 27 by Arnabkanti Das, who objected to the language used by the TMC leader. Das argued that a sitting Member of Parliament should not make such irresponsible remarks, claiming that they could damage communal harmony and national unity.
The complainant alleged that Banerjee's remarks could spread violence and hatred, create disorder and incite offences against the state. An FIR was registered in connection with the complaint, following which the police asked the MP to appear for questioning on Saturday.
Complaint over remarks against Chief Election Commissioner
The controversy centres on Banerjee's social media post referring to the Chief Election Commissioner and an alleged anti-Bengal Gujarati grouping. The complainant maintained that describing a community using the term “gang” could create hostility and undermine communal harmony.
The complaint also raised concerns about the responsibility expected of an elected representative, particularly a sitting MP, while making public statements about a constitutional authority and a community.
Police summoned Banerjee to Bhawanipore police station to question him in connection with the case. He appeared at the station at 12.23 pm on Saturday in compliance with the notice.
Separate case over alleged threats to police officers
Banerjee is also facing a separate police case over remarks he made about state police personnel. On Friday evening, officers from Girish Park police station visited his Kalighat residence and served him a notice directing him to appear for questioning on November 20.
The second case stems from comments Banerjee made before the media on October 29. He had alleged that the police, acting at the instigation of the Chief Minister and the state government, were filing false cases against opposition leaders and workers.
He had also warned that if the government changed, he would hold the police officers responsible to account.
Following those remarks, a woman lodged a complaint against him at Girish Park police station on October 31, alleging that his statements amounted to threats against police personnel.
Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and subsequently issued the notice. The police have asked Banerjee to appear at Girish Park police station on November 20. Officials confirmed that the notice had been received by someone at his residence.
The two cases are separate, with the Bhawanipore summons relating to his social media remarks about Gyanesh Kumar and the Gujarati community, while the Girish Park case concerns his alleged threats against police officers.