Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Derek O’Brien Questioned Over TMC Office Billboard Clash
Police are investigating a fight that happened while a billboard was being removed from a Trinamool Congress office.
The office belongs to party leader Abhishek Banerjee and is on Camac Street in Kolkata.
Kolkata Municipal Corporation workers and police went there on August 27 to remove the alleged unauthorised billboard.
Trinamool workers reportedly resisted, and a scuffle followed.
Derek O’Brien went to the Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday to answer questions.
Abhishek Banerjee had been questioned there the day before.
Banerjee’s assistant Sumit Roy was also questioned on Wednesday.
Police are studying CCTV footage and said 14 people had been arrested, while O’Brien disputed parts of their account.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien appeared at Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday for questioning.
The inquiry concerns a scuffle during the removal of an alleged illegal or unauthorised billboard at Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office on August 27.
Police are examining CCTV footage and questioning people named in three FIRs filed over the incident.
Abhishek Banerjee appeared for questioning on Tuesday, while his personal assistant Sumit Roy also appeared on Wednesday.
Police said 14 people had been arrested and cited allegations including obstruction, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women personnel.
- Who
- Derek O’Brien, Abhishek Banerjee, Sumit Roy, Humayun Kabir, Baishwanar Chatterjee and other Trinamool Congress activists; Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation personnel were also involved.
- What
- Police questioned O’Brien and Roy over FIRs concerning a scuffle during the removal of an alleged unauthorised billboard.
- When
- The underlying incident occurred on August 27. Banerjee appeared on Tuesday, while O’Brien and Roy appeared on Wednesday.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata; questioning took place at Shakespeare Sarani police station.
- Why
- Police are investigating allegations including obstruction of government officials, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women personnel.
Police allegations
Derek O’Brien’s account
Events during billboard removal
Police allegations
Police allege that Trinamool activists resisted the removal operation, obstructed government officials and assaulted on-duty personnel. The FIRs also include an allegation involving the modesty of a female police officer.
Derek O’Brien’s account
O’Brien alleged that police entered the office with an “illegal” notice, assaulted senior leaders and heckled party supporters and office staff.
Evidence and resistance
Police allegations
Police are examining CCTV footage showing people allegedly manhandling police personnel and are investigating why Kolkata Municipal Corporation officers were prevented from entering the building.
Derek O’Brien’s account
O’Brien described reports that private guards resisted the police as “fake news.”
Summons and appearance
Police allegations
Police rejected O’Brien’s request for seven additional days and issued a fresh notice requiring him to appear on Wednesday.
Derek O’Brien’s account
O’Brien’s counsel sought more time, citing the short interval between the original notice and the scheduled appearance; O’Brien later appeared before the fresh deadline.
- Police station
- Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, Kolkata
- Incident location
- Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street
- Incident date
- August 27
- FIRs
- Three FIRs were filed; Banerjee and O’Brien were named in two of them, according to police.
- Questioning
- O’Brien arrived around 10 to 10:30 a.m. and was questioned for nearly five hours; reports said Banerjee was questioned for several hours.
- Arrests
- Police said 14 people had been arrested.
- Next summons
- TMC leader Baishwanar Chatterjee was summoned to appear on Thursday.
Sources
Trinamool billboard row: Derek O’Brien appears at Kolkata police station to face interrogation
Derek O'Brien, Abhishek Banerjee Aide Appears Before Cops Over Billboard Row
Derek O’Brien, Sumit Roy appear before Kolkata Police over clash at Abhishek Banerjee’s office
Cops Quiz Derek In Scuffle Case
