Kolkata Police register case against TMC’s Abhishek, Derek O’Brien for scuffle over removal of a party hoarding

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee speaks to media after Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials pulled down an "unauthorised" billboard from the roof of his office, in Kolkata, Thursday, on August 27, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI The Kolkata Police have registered FIRs against the Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien on Friday (August 28, 2026) for allegedly assaulting police and obstructing them from discharging their duty when they went to remove an electric signboard of the party at a building in Kolkata’s Camac Street area. Three FIRs have been registered in connection with the scuffle.“The removal was being done as per the direction of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. At least 13 people have so far been arrested in the case. All three FIRs by the police, and KMC officials have been reported at the Shakespeare Police Station,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Kunal Aggarwal said on Friday (August 28).Mr. Agarwal said that accused including Derek O’Brien, Abhishek Banerjee, Humayun Kabir, Baisanor Chattopadhyay and others. “These leaders along with their supporters, formed an unlawful assembly, obstructed and restrained the police personnel and KMC officials from entering the common area and discharging their lawful duties, and used criminal force and assault against police personnel, including lady police personnel, and KMC officials,” the police said.A scuffle between Trinamool Congress leader and KMC officials and the police personnel erupted on Thursday (August 27) night when personnel of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), forcibly removed a billboard from a building in Kolkata’s Camac Street area, where a party office is located. A billboard reading ‘All India Trinamool Congress’ was put on the top of a building located at 9 Camac Street, and a large part of the premises serves as the office of Mr. Banerjee. The police and the KMC officials argued that several offices are located in the building and a billboard of a political party cannot be put on it.A large number of policemen, along with some officials of KMC, arrived at the address and tried to enter the building to remove the billboard at about 3.30 p.m. in the afternoon. Mr. Banerjee and other Trinamool leaders tried to stop the police and asked if they had necessary orders to enter the building. For the next one and half hours, heated exchange broke out between the Trinamool Congress leaders and police and municipal officials. Trinamool Congress supporters raised slogans but the police eventually forced their way inside and removed the banner. Trinamool Congress 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 Trinamool Congress on social media showed pushing and shoving between party supporters and the police personnel.“What bill board will I put outside my office, will this be decided by the BJP. There are 400 posters of the BJP on this road. Will the police and KMC remove any of them,” Mr. Banerjee asked.In the FIR, police have alleged that the billboard was hanging dangerously and therefore the KMC directed to remove it immediately from the space. While assisting the KMC officials, some unknown persons obstructed the police personnel on the staircase and snatched the government issued walkie-talkie wireless from a constable. When he tried to apprehend one of them, the persons allegedly assaulted the police personnel, causing injuries. It is further alleged that a lady police personnel was attacked with intent to outrage her modesty, and that the accused persons threatened the public servants with false criminal cases and consequences to their service, thereby intimidating and deterring them from performing their lawful duties.The first FIR by the deputy manager of the KMC (Advertisement), Sandeep Kumar Bose, was lodged under sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 351(2), 303(2), 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The second FIR by the injured constable of Park Street Police Station, Sujit Kumar Mandal was lodged under sections 304(2) and 121(1) of BNS. Meanwhile, the third FIR was lodged based on a written requisition of KMC. It includes sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 121(1), 74, 3(5), 351(2) of BNS. Published - August 28, 2026 12:28 pm IST