Derek O'Brien skips Kolkata Police summons in Camac Street billboard row
Synopsis
Senior Trinamool Congress leaders Derek O'Brien and Abhishek Banerjee are now formally in Kolkata Police's crosshairs over a street-level billboard standoff that turned violent — with O'Brien already skipping his first summons and a second notice on its way. With 14 arrests and allegations of assaulting a female officer, this is no longer just a municipal dispute.
Key Takeaways
Derek O'Brien did not appear before Shakespeare Sarani Police Station on Monday as directed, with his counsel seeking a seven-day extension .
Kolkata Police confirmed a second interrogation notice will be issued to O'Brien.
Abhishek Banerjee has been asked to appear by noon on 1 September ; his aide Sumit Roy by noon on 2 September .
Three FIRs at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station allege assault on police and an attempt to outrage the modesty of a female officer.
14 people have been arrested so far in connection with the 27 August Camac Street confrontation.
Banerjee's counsel disputed FIR uploads; Kolkata Police refuted the claim, saying all three FIRs are accessible on their website.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien on Monday, 1 September did not appear before the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in Kolkata for interrogation linked to three FIRs filed over the forcible resistance to removal of an illegal billboard from the roof of Abhishek Banerjee's party office on Camac Street in Central Kolkata. Instead, O'Brien's counsel sent a letter to Kolkata Police requesting a seven-day extension, citing insufficient time to consult legal advisers after the notice was served at short notice.
Police Response and Second Notice
A city police officer confirmed that O'Brien will be served with a second interrogation notice and that the process has already been initiated. The original notice had been delivered on Sunday by officers from the Shakespeare Sarani station, who visited O'Brien's residence on Prince Anwar Shah Road in South Kolkata and handed it to his aide, directing him to appear by noon on Monday.
Notices to Abhishek Banerjee and Personal Assistant
Kolkata Police has also issued interrogation notices to Abhishek Banerjee — Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member — and his personal assistant, Sumit Roy. Banerjee has been directed to appear by noon on 1 September, while Roy's scheduled appearance is by noon on 2 September. It remains to be seen whether either complies or follows O'Brien's lead in seeking additional time.
Separately, Banerjee's counsel emailed Kolkata Police on Sunday night alleging that the three FIRs linked to his notice had not been uploaded on the city police website. The police rejected the claim, asserting that all three FIRs were duly uploaded and their copies were available for download.
What Triggered the Confrontation
Tension erupted on Camac Street on the afternoon of 27 August when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at Banerjee's party office to remove an illegal billboard from the building's roof. They were met with stiff resistance from Trinamool Congress activists led by Banerjee, O'Brien, and other party leaders, resulting in scuffles between the police and party workers.
What the FIRs Allege
Three FIRs have been registered at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station. In them, Trinamool Congress activists are accused of assaulting on-duty police officers and, in a particularly serious allegation, attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer. Two of the three FIRs name Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, and other party leaders including Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee. Police have so far arrested 14 people in connection with the incident.
The episode marks one of the most direct confrontations between Kolkata Police and senior Trinamool Congress leadership in recent memory, with the party's second-in-command and a prominent parliamentary face both named in criminal complaints. How the interrogation process unfolds in the coming days will be closely watched.
Point of View
A ruling party's activists allegedly assaulting officers, and a dispute over whether FIRs were even uploaded: each element, taken alone, is a procedural footnote; together, they sketch a pattern of friction between law enforcement and the ruling establishment. The more significant question is not whether O'Brien or Banerjee eventually appear, but whether the interrogations, if they happen, will be substantive or performative. In a state where the relationship between the ruling party and the police is structurally fraught, that distinction matters enormously.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Derek O'Brien skip the Kolkata Police summons?
O'Brien did not appear before Shakespeare Sarani Police Station on Monday as directed. His counsel wrote to Kolkata Police seeking a seven-day extension, citing that the notice was served at short notice and O'Brien did not have adequate time to consult his legal advisers.
What is the Camac Street billboard row about?
On 27 August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation staff and police arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's party office on Camac Street to remove an illegal billboard from the rooftop. Trinamool Congress activists, led by Banerjee, O'Brien, and other leaders, allegedly resisted the removal, leading to scuffles and the registration of three FIRs.
What do the FIRs against Trinamool Congress leaders allege?
Three FIRs filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station accuse Trinamool Congress activists of assaulting on-duty police officers and, in a serious charge, attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer. Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Humayun Kabir, and Baishwanar Chatterjee are named in two of the three FIRs.
When is Abhishek Banerjee scheduled to appear before the police?
Abhishek Banerjee has been directed to appear before Kolkata Police by noon on 1 September. His personal assistant Sumit Roy is scheduled to appear by noon on 2 September.
How many people have been arrested in the Camac Street incident?
Kolkata Police have arrested 14 people in connection with the 27 August confrontation on Camac Street, where KMC staff and police faced resistance while attempting to remove an illegal billboard from Abhishek Banerjee's party office.
