Kolkata Police have registered three FIRs against Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and several others following a clash with police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials during the removal of a party hoarding at the party’s Camac Street office. The cases were registered on Friday in connection with the confrontation at 9 Camac Street, where a significant portion of the building houses Abhishek Banerjee’s office. At least 13 people have been arrested in connection with the incident so far.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Kunal Aggarwal said the billboard was being removed following directions from the KMC. “The removal was being done as per the direction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. At least 13 people have so far been arrested in the case. All three FIRs by the police and KMC officials have been reported at the Shakespeare Police Station,” Aggarwal said.
The first FIR was filed by KMC Advertisement Deputy Manager Sandeep Kumar Bose under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 351(2), 303(2) and 3(5). The second was filed by injured Park Street Police Station constable Sujit Kumar Mandal under Sections 304(2) and 121(1) of the BNS. The third FIR, based on a written requisition from the KMC, invokes Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 74, 3(5) and 351(2) of the BNS.
According to police, the accused include Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Humayun Kabir and Baisanor Chattopadhyay, among others. Police alleged that the leaders and their supporters formed an unlawful assembly and prevented police and civic officials from entering the building and carrying out their duties. The police further alleged that some of the accused used force against police personnel, including women officers, and KMC officials.
The FIRs allege that the billboard had been installed in a dangerous manner and posed a safety risk, prompting the KMC to order its immediate removal. Police also alleged that unidentified individuals blocked officers on the staircase and snatched a government-issued wireless set from a constable. When the officer attempted to apprehend one of them, he was allegedly assaulted and injured. It further alleges that a woman police officer was attacked with the intention of outraging her modesty. Police also accused the protesters of threatening public servants with false criminal cases and professional consequences in an attempt to intimidate them.
The dispute began on Thursday afternoon when a large police contingent and KMC officials reached the building to remove a billboard bearing the words ‘All India Trinamool Congress’. Officials argued that the building housed multiple offices and that a political party could not install such a billboard on the premises. Abhishek Banerjee and other TMC leaders opposed the move and questioned whether the officials had the necessary authorisation to enter the building. A heated exchange continued for around one-and-a-half hours as supporters raised slogans.
Police eventually entered the building and removed the billboard. During the operation, Derek O’Brien fell on a staircase as police and civic officials moved towards the roof. Videos shared by the TMC showed pushing and shoving between party supporters and police personnel. Questioning the action, Abhishek Banerjee said, “What billboard will I put outside my office, will this be decided by the BJP? There are 400 posters of the BJP on this road. Will the police and KMC remove any of them?”
