TMC office signboard row: Police issue summons to Abhishek; building owner serves vacation notice

The Kolkata Police on Saturday issued summons to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the case filed against him in the ruckus at his party office this week.

The summons were served at Abhishek's Kalighat road residence late Saturday night, and he has been asked to appear at Shakespeare Sarani police station at noon on September 1.

The police had filed FIRs against Abhishek, along with TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien and other leaders, after ruckus broke out at the TMC's party office at 9, Camac Street, on Thursday as police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials removed an alleged unauthorised hoarding atop the office.

Three FIRs were filed by Kolkata Police at Shakespeare Sarani police station, and Abhishek was named in two of them. Police have so far arrested 13 people in connection with the case, all of whom are presently in judicial custody.

While one complaint was lodged by the KMC officials, two complaints were filed by police officials of the Park Street and Shakespeare Sarani police stations. Sections of the BNS related to rioting, unlawful assembly, carrying deadly weapons, voluntarily causing hurt to public servants on duty, using force against women and insulting dignity, and criminal intimidation were invoked against the accused.

Police alleged that during execution of the municipal order, TMC leaders formed an unlawful assembly, obstructed and restrained the police personnel and KMC officials from entering the common area and discharging their lawful duties, and used criminal force and assault against police personnel and KMC officials.

According to advocate Sagnika Banerjee, who represents the owner Rama Devi Goenka, the Trinamool Youth Congress had entered into an agreement with her client in 2020 for a period of 10 years.

The agreement, she said, was signed by jailed former TMC councillor Debraj Chakraborty.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sagnika alleged, “It has also come to the knowledge of the owner that certain illegal activities were going on.”

Sangika also claimed that the owner had earlier approached the police over the alleged occupation of the two floors, but no action was taken. She alleged that the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum unit had occupied the top floor without informing the owner.

A legal notice seeking the vacation of the two floors was sent via email on August 24 and by post on August 25, Sagnika said. The premises have not yet been vacated, the lawyer further alleged.

Earlier, Abhishek had also approached the Calcutta High Court in this matter.

The case came up before Acting Chief Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury on Friday. The court observed that since the billboard was already dismantled and no interim protection could be provided, the case held no relevance.

Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More