Kolkata Police and Fire Department Inspect Abhishek Banerjee's Office Amid Fire Safety Notice

Joint Inspection at Camac Street Office

A joint team of Kolkata Police and fire department officials visited the Camac Street office of Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday, August 31, to conduct a fire safety audit and examine the building plan, as reported by The Hindu. The visit came four days after a team of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials and Kolkata Police visited the premises to remove an electric billboard, an operation that led to a clash with TMC workers.

Officials described the audit as a routine exercise, stating that the premises would be assessed based on applicable fire safety and building norms, and indicated that further inspections might follow in the coming days, according to The Hindu.

Fire Safety Notice

The West Bengal fire services department issued a notice on Tuesday night alleging severe fire safety irregularities at Banerjee's office, located in a building at 9 Camac Street in Central Kolkata, as reported by Lokmat Times. The notice was served on the same day Banerjee was questioned for over six hours at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in connection with the August 27 clashes.

According to Lokmat Times, the notice followed an inspection by state fire services department officials on August 31. It cited six types of irregularities in the fire safety system, noting that the fire safety certificate had expired on August 10. The notice sought a written response within 48 hours and asked why the office should not be sealed due to inadequate fire safety arrangements.

Background of the Clash

The events trace back to Thursday, August 27, when a scuffle erupted between TMC workers and KMC and police personnel during the removal of a billboard reading 'All India Trinamool Congress' from the top of the building at 9 Camac Street, as detailed by The Hindu. The billboard was removed because, according to police and KMC officials, several offices are located in the building and a political party's billboard could not be placed there.

During the operation, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien fell on the stairs as police and other officials reached the roof to remove the hoarding. Videos shared by the TMC showed pushing and shoving between party supporters and police personnel, as reported by The Hindu.

FIRs and Arrests

Three FIRs were lodged against Banerjee, O'Brien, and several other party leaders for allegedly assaulting police and obstructing duty, according to The Hindu. The first FIR, filed by Sandeep Kumar Bose, deputy manager of KMC (Advertisement), cited sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 351(2), 303(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The second FIR, by constable Sujit Kumar Mandal, was lodged under sections 304(2) and 121(1) of the BNS. The third FIR, based on a written requisition from KMC, included sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 74, 3(5), and 351(2) of the BNS. At least 14 people have been arrested in connection with these cases, as reported by The Hindu.

Reactions and Allegations

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said these incidents raise 'touching concerns,' as quoted by The Hindu. Lokmat Times reported that Banerjee claimed all the administrative actions initiated against him were driven by political vendetta, and he asserted he would not bow down to such pressures.