Ex-TMC MLA Kabir summoned over Abhishek Banerjee office row

Kolkata Police on Sunday sent a notice to former IPS officer and the TMC’s ex-MLA Humayun Kabir, asking him to appear before officers investigating the alleged scuffle during the removal of an “illegal” billboard at a building housing party MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office, an official said.

The former legislator has been asked to appear at Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday noon.

Authorities on August 27 removed an “illegal” billboard of the TMC from the top of a building in central Kolkata’s Camac Street, during which private guards at Banerjee’s office, his supporters and some party leaders had scuffled with police and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials. Three FIRs were registered at the Shakespeare Sarani police station. Banerjee has been named as an accused in two of the FIRs, while Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, former MLA Kabir and former councillor Baishwanar Chatterjee are among others named in the cases, police officials said.

Police have already questioned Banerjee, his personal assistant Sumit Ray, O’Brien and Chatterjee in connection with the case.

On Sunday, a team of police personnel from the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station visited Kabir’s residence in the Kasba area of southern Kolkata to serve the notice, which he received, the official added. Sources said Kabir told the team that he wanted to appear before the police on Monday and that he could reach the police station at 1:30 pm.

The police had earlier visited Kabir’s residence twice to serve him notices in connection with the case; the former MLA was not present there then. Referring to the August 27 incident, Kabir said, “They (municipal officials and police) had come to demolish the office. But no rules were followed. There was no proper notice. It was a piece of paper without a memo number.

A case has now been filed against us. That’s alright. But the whole thing started illegally.”

“I was a police officer for a long time, so I know the law about such matters. I was recording the video of the developments, and our workers were under strict instructions not to touch the police when they arrived.

“The building’s private security was on the frontline trying to resist the illegal entry, and we were at the rear end. No one from the party’s side manhandled the police. In fact, the police manhandled our workers,” he alleged. The civic body had claimed that the billboard was illegally installed outside Banerjee’s office and that the officials were allegedly obstructed from carrying out their duties after Banerjee and his supporters reached the spot.

Charges in the three FIRs include obstructing Government officials in discharge of their duties, unlawful assembly, assault and harassment of women personnel.

Ray has been directed to appear before police again on Monday, while O’Brien has been summoned on Tuesday.

O’Brien had earlier alleged that the police barged into the office with an “illegal” notice, assaulted senior leaders and heckled party supporters and office staff. He had also described reports of resistance attempts by private guards as “fake news”.

So far, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.