Trinamool billboard row: 14 arrested as Kolkata Police nab 14th activist
Synopsis
A civic billboard removal at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office has snowballed into a major law-and-order episode — 14 TMC activists arrested, three FIRs filed, and senior leaders including a Rajya Sabha MP named as accused. With 13 already remanded to custody till 3 September, the case is heading deeper into the courts.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police arrested Toufik , a Trinamool Congress activist, as the 14th person held in the Camac Street billboard row.
The Anti-Rowdy Squad (ARS) made the arrest; Toufik was transferred to Shakespeare Sarani Police Station .
Three FIRs have been registered at Shakespeare Sarani; two name Abhishek Banerjee , Derek O'Brien , Humayun Kabir , and Baishwanar Chatterjee .
The earlier 13 arrestees were remanded to judicial custody until 3 September ; bail pleas rejected.
The row began when KMC officials arrived on Thursday to remove an illegal billboard from Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office rooftop.
Kolkata Police have arrested a 14th person in connection with the illegal billboard removal row at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office in Kolkata, bringing total arrests to 14 as of 29 August. The latest person detained has been identified as Toufik, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) activist accused of obstructing Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials and police personnel during Thursday's removal operation.
How the Latest Arrest Unfolded
Toufik was apprehended by the Anti-Rowdy Squad (ARS), a specialised wing of the city police's detective department, for allegedly taking a lead role in blocking KMC and police personnel on Thursday afternoon. He was subsequently handed over to the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, where three First Information Reports (FIRs) had already been registered in relation to the incident.
The three FIRs were filed on the basis of complaints from a Shakespeare Sarani Police Station officer, a cop from the adjacent Park Street Police Station, and the KMC itself. Two of those FIRs — filed by the Shakespeare Sarani officer and the KMC — named Abhishek Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP and nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee; Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien; and party leaders Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee, among others.
Earlier Arrests and Court Remand
The 13 persons arrested prior to Toufik were produced before a lower court in Kolkata on Friday. The presiding judge remanded all 13 to judicial custody until 3 September. Their bail applications, moved by defence counsel, were rejected by the court.
What Triggered the Confrontation
Tension flared on Thursday afternoon when KMC officials, accompanied by Kolkata Police, arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office to remove what authorities described as an illegal billboard on the building's roof. Banerjee and O'Brien, along with other TMC aides, reportedly blocked the KMC team's path. Banerjee challenged the legal validity of the removal order, arguing that the billboard's photograph had not been attached to the notice copy.
KMC officials withdrew temporarily to obtain a revised order. On their return, police cordoned off the area, and officials climbed the staircase to reach the rooftop. TMC supporters — including women activists — formed human chains on the staircase to obstruct their movement. A scuffle between police and TMC supporters followed before police cleared the way, allowing KMC officials to break and remove the billboard.
Political and Legal Implications
The confrontation is notable given that Abhishek Banerjee is widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) after Mamata Banerjee. The naming of senior party leaders — including a Rajya Sabha MP — in two FIRs marks a significant escalation. Critics argue the episode reflects growing tensions between civic enforcement mechanisms and political power in West Bengal. The matter is now before the courts, and further legal proceedings are expected after the remand period ends on 3 September.
Point of View
And were still physically blocked by party workers, signals how deeply political patronage has embedded itself in civic governance. The naming of a Rajya Sabha MP in an FIR raises the legal stakes considerably, but the more telling detail is that bail was denied for 13 activists — suggesting courts are treating this as a serious obstruction case, not a political skirmish. How the TMC leadership responds to prolonged judicial custody of its workers will be worth watching.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Trinamool Congress billboard row in Kolkata?
The row began on Thursday when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials, accompanied by police, arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office to remove an illegal billboard from the building's rooftop. TMC activists and leaders, including Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, allegedly obstructed the officials, leading to a scuffle and multiple arrests.
How many people have been arrested in the Camac Street billboard case?
As of 29 August, a total of 14 people have been arrested. The latest arrestee, identified as Toufik, was detained by the Anti-Rowdy Squad (ARS) for allegedly leading the obstruction of KMC and police personnel.
Who has been named in the FIRs related to the billboard row?
Two of the three FIRs registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station name Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien, and party leaders Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee, among others.
What happened to the 13 people arrested before Toufik?
The 13 earlier arrestees were produced before a lower court in Kolkata on Friday. The judge remanded all 13 to judicial custody until 3 September, and their bail applications were rejected.
Why did Abhishek Banerjee challenge the KMC removal order?
Banerjee argued that the initial KMC notice was legally invalid because the photograph of the billboard was not attached to the order copy. KMC officials temporarily withdrew to obtain a revised order, after which they returned with police cover and successfully removed the billboard.
