The Kolkata billboard case moved forward on Wednesday as Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee was questioned by Kolkata Police for nearly six hours over alleged violence during the removal of a billboard outside the party’s Camac Street office in central Kolkata.
Banerjee arrived at the Shakespeare Sarani police station at around 11.30 am after receiving a second notice from the police. Police sources cited by The Indian Express said the questioning continued for close to six hours. This was his second appearance in connection with the case involving an alleged altercation outside his office on August 27.
The immediate dispute concerns the removal of a billboard from the TMC office premises. The report said Kolkata Police and officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation were allegedly obstructed, harassed and physically assaulted while carrying out their duties. Banerjee has disputed the allegations and said the incident was recorded and streamed live.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the police station, Banerjee said he had appeared whenever called and wanted the truth to emerge. He alleged that the state police were harassing political opponents at the direction of the ruling BJP, but those allegations were not independently established in the report.
Banerjee also challenged the procedure followed by the civic authorities. He said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had not served him a proper notice before arriving to remove the billboard. Referring to the KMC’s legal provisions, he argued that demolition or removal could not take place without following the prescribed process.
The question of notice is central to the municipal aspect of the dispute. Billboard enforcement involves the authority to regulate structures and advertisements in public and private urban spaces, while removal action can also lead to disputes over prior notice, responsibility and the conduct of civic officials. The supplied report does not include the KMC’s response to Banerjee’s claim.
Banerjee further questioned whether billboard-removal rules were being applied equally to political parties. He asked why only TMC billboards were being removed, but the report did not provide details of other political-party billboards or any comparative enforcement record.
The police notice followed an earlier summons delivered at Banerjee’s Kalighat residence on Sunday, asking him to appear on Monday. He sought 48 hours, after which police served another notice directing him to appear at 10 am on Wednesday. He appeared later that morning at the Shakespeare Sarani police station.
After the questioning, Banerjee said the allegations of obstruction and assault should be established through evidence and a proper investigation rather than political accusations. He said he would continue the legal challenge in the High Court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court.
The MP also made wider allegations against the BJP government and referred to disputes involving political activity, party offices, election symbols and the movement of political leaders. Those statements were part of his remarks after the questioning and were not independently verified in the report.
The immediate next step is the continuation of the police investigation into the August 27 incident and the related billboard removal. Any further action will depend on the evidence gathered by the police and the legal proceedings cited by Banerjee.
