Legal trouble has mounted for top Trinamool Congress leadership following a high-drama clash at the party's Camac Street office in Kolkata a day prior. Kolkata Police have registered three separate First Information Reports (FIRs) against party General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, and two other senior leaders. In swift executive action following the altercation between party supporters and administrative staff, law enforcement agencies have arrested 13 individuals in connection with the incident.
Tensions Surge Over Removal of Unauthorized Hoarding
The confrontation unfolded when officials from the Advertising Department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), accompanied by a police contingent, arrived at the Camac Street premises to dismantle an alleged illegal billboard belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress. As civic workers attempted to enter the building to remove the signboards, private security personnel attached to Abhishek Banerjee's office, alongside party supporters and leaders, mounted strong resistance. The group attempted to physically block officials from accessing the structure, triggering a chaotic standoff.
Three Cases Filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station
According to senior police officials, criminal cases were formally registered at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station under sections covering obstruction of public servants in the discharge of their duties, physical assault on civic and police personnel, and unlawful assembly. Detailing the legal complaints, a senior Kolkata Police officer confirmed that the first FIR was lodged based on a complaint by an officer from the KMC Advertising Department, while the second FIR was initiated following an official requisition from the municipal body itself. The third FIR was registered on a complaint by an on-duty police sergeant, who alleged that unidentified persons obstructed government duty and forcibly seized an official walkie-talkie assigned to government staff.
Police Scan Video Footage As 13 Suspects Arrested
Providing an update on the ongoing probe, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) Kunal Agarwal stated that 13 people have been arrested so far. Detective Department officers are currently examining available video footage, CCTV feeds, and statements from eyewitnesses present at the scene. Investigators are seeking to establish the precise sequence of events that sparked the violence and determine the specific roles played by the leaders named in the FIRs.
Derek O'Brien Falls on Stairs Amid Push-and-Shove Allegations
The incident on Thursday saw intense scuffles as municipal workers proceeded with the removal drive under police protection. During the commotion, Trinamool leader Derek O'Brien reportedly fell on the building's staircase. Both Trinamool Congress representatives and police personnel subsequently traded charges, accusing each other of manhandling and aggressive physical pushing. Police authorities maintain that further investigation is underway to clarify all aspects of the confrontation.
