TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee quizzed again over Camac Street billboard

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee was questioned for nearly six hours at Shakespeare Sarani police station on Wednesday over alleged violence outside the party’s Camac Street office in August. It was his second appearance for questioning in the case, after September 1.

Abhishek arrived around 11.30am in response to a police summons. Emerging from the police station, he said: “I have appeared for questioning every time I have been summoned... and will do so in the future. There is no point in slapping such cases. We are made of a different metal.”

“The KMC should know that cases are pending in the high court and Supreme Court. I want to tell those who said I fled the country: I am here. This government has illegally captured Bengal. I would have been happy to witness proactive police action when 400 EVMs were burnt.”

The case stems from an August 27 confrontation at 9, Camac Street, when a Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) team, accompanied by police, went to dismantle a rooftop billboard bearing the party’s name and signage. The KMC had described the billboard as unauthorised.

The operation triggered a scuffle involving police personnel, civic officials, Abhishek’s security guards and supporters. KMC workers had dismantled the billboard after police entered the premises.

Three FIRs were registered on August 28, alleging obstruction of public servants, threats and assault.

Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh said: “If someone is required for questioning, he will face the police. But the timing, ahead of Durga Puja, suggests that this is clearly politically motivated.”