Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Fire Safety Audit Keeps Abhishek’s Camac Street Office Dispute Alive
Officials from Kolkata Police and the fire department visited a political leader’s office.
They checked whether the building had proper fire safety equipment.
They also looked at the building plan.
Officials said they would test the pumps and water pressure during further inspections.
The visit happened after a disagreement over removing a billboard from the office.
The Trinamool Congress says the government’s actions may be politically motivated.
Police have registered three cases over the earlier confrontation.
Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien have been asked to appear before police.
Kolkata Police and fire officials visited Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office for a fire safety audit.
Officials inspected safety arrangements, examined the building plan, and said further tests would assess pumps and water pressure.
The inspection followed a confrontation during an earlier attempt to remove a billboard from the premises.
The Trinamool Congress and Banerjee have alleged that administrative actions targeting the office are politically motivated.
Three FIRs were registered over the confrontation, and Banerjee and Derek O’Brien were summoned in connection with the cases.
- Who
- Kolkata Police, fire department officials, Abhishek Banerjee’s office, the Trinamool Congress, and Derek O’Brien.
- What
- A joint police and fire department team conducted a fire safety audit and examined the building plan at Banerjee’s Camac Street office.
- When
- The inspection took place on Monday, four days after an earlier billboard-removal visit; Banerjee was summoned by September 1.
- Where
- Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata.
- Why
- Officials said the visit was a routine regulatory inspection, while the TMC has alleged that actions involving the office are politically motivated.
Trinamool Congress and Banerjee
Police and Administration
Purpose of actions at the office
Trinamool Congress and Banerjee
The TMC and Abhishek Banerjee allege that repeated administrative actions targeting the office are politically motivated and amount to misuse of power.
Police and Administration
The fire department described its visit as a routine regulatory inspection, while police and civic officials had earlier attempted to remove a billboard from the premises.
Notice for billboard removal
Trinamool Congress and Banerjee
The TMC alleged that officials arrived without showing prior written notice or a copy of a valid order.
Police and Administration
The articles report the officials’ action and resulting confrontation but do not provide a detailed response from the administration on the alleged lack of notice.
Availability of FIR copies
Trinamool Congress and Banerjee
Banerjee questioned why copies of the FIRs and police notice were not available on the official Kolkata Police website.
Police and Administration
Police maintained that the FIR was uploaded within the stipulated time and that its copy was available on the website.
- Inspection
- Kolkata Police and fire department officials conducted a fire safety audit.
- Checks planned
- Officials said they would test pumps and water pressure and conduct further inspections.
- Earlier incident
- KMC officials and police visited four days earlier to remove a billboard, leading to a confrontation.
- Cases registered
- Three FIRs were registered over allegations including obstruction of officials, assault, and outraging the modesty of a woman.
- Summons
- Abhishek Banerjee was asked to appear at Shakespeare Sarani police station by noon on September 1.
- Additional summons
- TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien was summoned and sought seven days to appear.
- FIR dispute
- Banerjee questioned the availability of the FIRs and police notice online; police said the FIR was uploaded within the stipulated time.