Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before Kolkata Police on Tuesday in connection with the scuffle that broke out during the removal of a billboard from his Camac Street office.
Banerjee reached Shakespeare Sarani police station around 12.15 pm, with a group of supporters gathering outside and raising slogans. He had been served a police notice as part of the investigation into the August 27 incident involving police personnel, Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, private security guards and TMC supporters.
The controversy began when a joint team of KMC officials and Kolkata Police arrived at the Camac Street building to remove a billboard carrying TMC signage, which authorities described as “unauthorised”.
According to officials, private security guards, party supporters and some TMC leaders allegedly attempted to prevent the officials from entering the premises, resulting in a confrontation. The billboard, installed on an iron structure on the top floor and facing the road, was eventually dismantled after police entered the building.
The incident has since turned into a police case, with three FIRs registered in connection with the confrontation. Banerjee has been named as an accused in two of the cases, while TMC leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and former MLA Humayun Kabir have also been named.
Police have made several arrests in connection with the scuffle and are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the confrontation. O’Brien was also served a police notice on Sunday.
The TMC has disputed the police and civic authorities’ version of events. O’Brien, who was present at the office during the operation, dismissed reports that private security guards had resisted the officials as “fake news”, saying they were stationed at the building entrance as part of their duty.
He also alleged that police entered the office with an “illegal” notice and accused them of assaulting senior party leaders and heckling party supporters and office staff. The allegations have added a political dimension to the ongoing investigation into the Camac Street confrontation.
