Bengal Fire Department Asks TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee to Vacate Camac Street Office Over Safety Concerns

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Fire Services Department on Friday served a notice directing that Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street be vacated over alleged shortcomings in fire-safety arrangements.

The notice was reportedly served on the owner of the building, located under the jurisdiction of Shakespeare Sarani police station, where Banerjee’s office occupies the seventh and eighth floors on lease.

According to available information, the department cited inadequate fire-safety measures as per its guidelines and sought proper arrangements in the interest of public safety.

The development comes shortly after another controversy at the same premises involving the removal of a large Trinamool Congress billboard.

Fire Safety Concerns Raised on Two Floors

The latest notice concerns the seventh and eighth floors of the Camac Street building.

The fire services department reportedly asked the building owner to ensure that proper and adequate fire-safety measures are put in place.

Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP, operates his office from the premises on lease.

Further details regarding the specific fire-safety deficiencies cited by the department were not immediately available in the information released.

Billboard Removal Triggered Scuffle on August 27

The fire-safety notice comes after events at the same building on the evening of August 27.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), accompanied by Kolkata Police, removed a large billboard carrying All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) signage from the rooftop.

Authorities alleged that the billboard was unauthorised.

KMC workers used hammers and gas cutters to dismantle the tin-sheet structure, which had been mounted on an iron framework.

The operation led to a confrontation at the premises involving civic officials, police and people present at the office.

Three FIRs Registered After the Incident

Police subsequently registered three FIRs in connection with the scuffle.

Two complaints were lodged separately by a KMC official and a Park Street police station sergeant.

According to police, the cases include allegations concerning the heckling of police personnel and outraging the modesty of women police officers during the confrontation.

Abhishek Banerjee has been named as an accused in two of the FIRs, according to police.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and former party MLA Humayun Kabir are among others named in the cases.

The allegations remain subject to investigation.

Abhishek Questioned for Around Six Hours

Banerjee appeared before police on Tuesday in connection with the August 27 incident.

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He was questioned for approximately six hours at Shakespeare Sarani police station.

Supporters gathered outside and raised slogans, while a section of TMC workers alleged that the police action against the Diamond Harbour MP was politically motivated and accused the BJP-led state government of pursuing a vendetta.

These remain political allegations made by Banerjee’s supporters.

Abhishek Hits Back Over Fire Incidents

After leaving the police station, Banerjee criticised the government and questioned its priorities.

Referring to previous fire incidents in Kolkata’s Mirza Ghalib Street and Tarapith in Birbhum district, he argued that greater attention should have been given to preventing such tragedies.

“But their police are very active on the billboard issue in our party office,” Banerjee said.

He also denied allegations concerning any incident of molestation during the August 27 confrontation.

Derek O’Brien Also Appears Before Police

The investigation has extended to others named in the cases.

Derek O’Brien and Sumit Roy, identified as Banerjee’s personal assistant, appeared before Kolkata Police on Wednesday in connection with the scuffle.

O’Brien had initially been summoned for Monday but reportedly requested additional time because of the short interval between receiving the notice and the scheduled appearance.

A police officer said investigators were questioning individuals named in the cases, examining available evidence and recording their statements as part of the probe.

Camac Street Office Faces Fresh Scrutiny

The latest fire department notice adds another layer to the ongoing developments surrounding Banerjee’s Camac Street premises.

What began with the civic body’s removal of an allegedly unauthorised rooftop billboard has since resulted in three FIRs, police questioning of senior TMC figures and now scrutiny over the building’s fire-safety arrangements.

The immediate focus will now be on how the building owner and those occupying the affected floors respond to the fire department’s directions and what steps are taken to address the cited safety concerns.