Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office: Building owner alleges ‘forced occupation’

The owner of the Camac Street building in Kolkata where Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office is located has accused the structure of being forcibly occupied. According to Advocate Sagnika Banerjee, representing property owner Rama Devi Goenka, the Trinamool Youth Congress signed a 10-year lease agreement with the building owner in 2020.

However, Goenka claims that the terms of the lease were not met, and two floors were taken over forcefully under political pressure. She states that her client had clearly indicated possession could only be granted once a completion certificate was provided by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Goenka has served a legal notice for the vacating of the two floors within 24 hours, but the building remains occupied.

She adds, "The police took no action during the previous government. Now with the change of government, we have some faith. We will move legally." The Bengal Municipal and Urban Development Minister, Agnimitra Paul, says the encroachment issue will be investigated after removing a dangerous hoarding installed on an iron frame. Tensions escalated on Thursday when civic officials, along with police, arrived to dismantle the hoarding.

Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, and police were present at the scene when a scuffle broke out between the police and TMC workers. The police and officials eventually entered the building and dismantled the billboard using a gas cutter.