2 days ago
Kolkata Police Issue Fresh Summons in TMC Billboard Case
Officials went to a Trinamool Congress office in Kolkata to remove a billboard they said was illegal and dangerous.
Police accompanied the city workers.
Party activists resisted the removal, and a confrontation followed.
Police filed three cases about what happened.
The cases include allegations that officers were obstructed and assaulted.
They also include allegations involving the harassment of a female police officer.
Police summoned Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Sumit Roy for questioning.
O’Brien missed an earlier appointment and received another notice.
The Trinamool Congress also went to court about the billboard, but the court did not order it to be put back immediately.
Kolkata Police summoned Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Sumit Roy for questioning over the Camac Street billboard incident.
O’Brien missed an earlier appearance and was served a fresh notice to attend Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on September 2.
Abhishek Banerjee was asked to appear by noon on September 1, while Sumit Roy was also summoned for September 2.
The dispute began when Kolkata Municipal Corporation staff and police tried to remove an allegedly illegal TMC-branded billboard from Banerjee’s office roof.
Three FIRs were filed, 14 people were arrested, and police alleged assaults on officers and harassment of a female police officer.
- Who
- Kolkata Police, Kolkata Municipal Corporation staff, Trinamool Congress activists, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and Sumit Roy.
- What
- Police are investigating a confrontation during the attempted removal of a billboard from a Trinamool Congress office and have issued questioning notices to party-linked individuals.
- Where
- Abhishek Banerjee’s party office on Camac Street in central Kolkata; notices were served at residences in south Kolkata and directed recipients to Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
- When
- The confrontation was reported on August 27; the notices set appearances for September 1 and September 2. One report described the incident as occurring on a Tuesday or the previous Thursday.
- Why
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials sought to remove a billboard that authorities described as illegal; one report also said the billboard was hanging dangerously.
Police and Civic Authorities
Trinamool Congress and Its Lawyers
Billboard removal
Police and Civic Authorities
Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials said the billboard was illegally installed; one report said it was also hanging dangerously, so staff went to remove it with police assistance.
Trinamool Congress and Its Lawyers
The Trinamool Congress approached the Calcutta High Court over the billboard’s removal and sought its reinstallation, but the court did not grant that request immediately because the billboard had already been removed.
Confrontation and allegations
Police and Civic Authorities
Police and civic officials alleged that activists obstructed and assaulted government personnel. The FIRs also contain allegations involving harassment of women police personnel and an attempt to outrage a female officer’s modesty.
Trinamool Congress and Its Lawyers
The reports describe resistance and scuffles but do not provide a detailed factual rebuttal from the activists. Lawyer Arka Nag said the notices were issued under Section 35 and raised concerns that the FIRs had not been uploaded online.
Questioning notices
Police and Civic Authorities
Police issued fresh notices after O’Brien did not attend his scheduled appearance and rejected his request for seven additional days before appearing.
Trinamool Congress and Its Lawyers
O’Brien skipped the earlier appointment and sent police a letter seeking seven days to appear; his lawyer said a counter-notice was sent citing the Supreme Court’s Youth Bar Association judgment.
Key facts
- Police station
- Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
- Fresh notice to O’Brien
- He was asked to appear by noon on September 2 after missing an earlier appointment.
- Banerjee’s notice
- Abhishek Banerjee was asked to appear by noon on September 1.
- Roy’s notice
- Sumit Roy, Banerjee’s personal assistant, was asked to appear by noon on September 2.
- FIRs
- Three FIRs were registered in connection with the incident.
- Arrests
- Police said 14 people had been arrested.
- Court proceedings
- The Calcutta High Court allowed the Trinamool Congress to file a case but declined immediate interim relief and did not order the billboard’s reinstallation.
Sources
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