Abhishek Banerjee gets Kolkata Police notice over Camac Street billboard clash

Kolkata Police has served a notice on Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the clash that broke out during the removal of an allegedly unauthorised party billboard from his Camac Street office earlier this week.

The notice was delivered to Banerjee’s residence on Saturday evening, asking him to appear before the investigating officer at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station for questioning in connection with the case. The development marks an escalation in the controversy that began when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) personnel, accompanied by police, arrived at Banerjee’s office on Thursday to dismantle a billboard bearing TMC signage.

Three FIRs registered

Police have registered three FIRs in connection with the confrontation, with Banerjee named as an accused in two of them. Several other TMC leaders and party functionaries have also been named in the cases. According to police, the cases relate to allegations of obstructing public servants from discharging their duties and the confrontation that followed when officials attempted to enter the premises. Police have also issued notices to others in connection with the investigation as they seek to establish the sequence of events during the operation.

Clash during billboard removal

The controversy erupted after KMC officials reached the Camac Street building to remove the billboard, which civic authorities maintained had been installed without the necessary permission.

Police personnel accompanying the civic team encountered resistance when they attempted to enter the premises. Banerjee’s private security personnel, party supporters and some TMC leaders were present at the spot, leading to heated exchanges and a scuffle. Police eventually entered the premises, following which KMC personnel dismantled the billboard from the iron structure on the building. Several people were detained during the confrontation for allegedly preventing public servants from carrying out their duties. Fourteen people have subsequently been arrested in connection with the incident.

TMC rejects allegations

The Trinamool Congress has strongly disputed the police version and accused the authorities of forcibly entering Banerjee’s office without proper legal grounds.

The party alleged that police personnel assaulted senior leaders, supporters and office staff during the operation. It also claimed that women security personnel were manhandled and their clothes torn during the confrontation. TMC leaders have maintained that Banerjee’s private security personnel were merely performing their regular duties at the office and rejected allegations that they deliberately prevented civic officials from carrying out lawful work.

Police examine CCTV footage

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the building and surrounding areas as part of the probe. Police are also looking at video recordings and other material from the confrontation to identify individuals allegedly involved in obstructing officials.

The notice to Banerjee brings the Diamond Harbour MP directly into the investigation and is likely to intensify the political row surrounding what began as a civic action over an allegedly unauthorised billboard.