Abhishek Banerjee at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in Kolkata on Wednesday
Kolkata: Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was questioned at Shakespeare Sarani police station for five hours on Wednesday over an Aug 27 Camac Street billboard dispute that led to skirmishes between Trinamool functionaries and workers, and KMC and Kolkata Police personnel. Banerjee reached the police station shortly before 11.30am, an officer said, and left in the evening. Kolkata Police had earlier issued two notices to Banerjee at his Kalighat residence over a KMC complaint, following which he sought 48 hours’ time before appearing, citing prior commitments as an MP. On Aug 27, Banerjee’s supporters protested as police and KMC officials tried to remove a TMC billboard bearing the party’s name and symbol from a Camac Street building serving as a Trinamool office, during which civic workers and cops were allegedly harassed and assaulted.
Stepping out, the three-time sitting MP said he had never fled from any probe. On the allegation of obstructing municipal workers and cops, Banerjee said: “The entire incident was broadcast live on Facebook. I went, cooperated, they asked me questions and I answered them,” he said.
Simply filing a complaint is not enough. If I lodge a complaint, it must be investigated. I will go to Calcutta High Court and Supreme Court. “Whenever I was called — be it by Kolkata Police, CID, any other department of West Bengal Police, ED or CBI — I did not run away.
Three FIRs were registered at Shakespeare Sarani police station, and Banerjee was questioned once earlier.