A demolition drive began on Saturday morning at a five-storey building in Amtala, Diamond Harbour, which houses Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office. The operation was carried out under heavy security, with a large contingent of police and central forces deployed at the site.
Bulldozers were first used to dismantle the blue shed in front of the building before demolition work gradually extended to the outer walls of the structure. Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services, the Block Development Office (BDO) and the Block Land and Land Reforms Office (BLLRO) were also present during the operation.
According to administrative sources, the building is alleged to have been constructed without an approved building plan. The authorities said notices had been served to the concerned parties earlier, seeking their appearance at a hearing. However, after no representative reportedly attended the scheduled hearing, the administration initiated demolition proceedings in accordance with the law.
Officials said the next course of action would be taken after following the required legal procedures.
As the demolition progressed, a large number of local residents gathered near the building. Some people reportedly entered the premises, following which police escorted them out to prevent any disruption to the operation.
Sources said the South 24 Parganas district administration had issued notices on June 30 to Amit Banerjee, Mati Mallick and Sushanta Mondal, asking them to appear before the concerned department on July 15.
Amit Banerjee, father of Abhishek Banerjee, was identified in the notice as a director of Leaps and Bounds. The notice stated that the hearing was being conducted following a complaint filed by Sushanta Mondal, and all parties were instructed to submit relevant documents and evidence in support of their claims.
According to the administration, none of the concerned parties appeared at the hearing on the scheduled date, prompting officials to proceed with the demolition drive on Saturday.
The latest action comes weeks after another demolition drive on May 24, when a Trinamool Congress party office in the Mathpukur area off the EM Bypass was razed by authorities. Local residents had alleged that the structure was initially built as a club after the 2011 Assembly elections before being converted into a TMC party office. They had also accused the premises of being used for illegal activities, allegations that have not been independently verified.
