Kolkata fire dept orders TMC to vacate Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office
Synopsis
The West Bengal Fire Services Department has ordered the TMC to vacate Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office in Kolkata after finding six fire safety violations and an expired safety certificate. The order comes just days after the same office was the flashpoint for a clash over an illegal billboard, leading to three FIRs, 14 arrests, and the questioning of senior TMC leaders.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal Fire Services Department on 4 September ordered the seventh and eighth floors of Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office building in Kolkata to be vacated.
The office's fire safety certificate had expired on 10 August ; officials cited six categories of fire safety violations.
A notice was first issued on 2 September seeking a response within 48 hours ; the vacating order followed after the deadline lapsed.
The same office was the site of an 27 August clash between KMC staff, police, and TMC activists over the removal of an allegedly illegal billboard.
Three FIRs have been filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station ; 14 people arrested and senior leaders including Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien questioned.
The West Bengal Fire Services Department on 4 September issued a formal order directing the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to immediately vacate the party office of its General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee on Camac Street in central Kolkata, citing multiple fire safety violations. The department found that the office — occupying the seventh and eighth floors of the building — posed a risk to public safety due to inadequate fire-fighting measures.
What the Fire Department Found
According to fire services officials, the office failed to comply with fire safety regulations on at least six counts. Critically, the fire safety certificate for the premises had expired on 10 August, leaving the building without valid clearance for nearly a month before action was initiated.
A notice was first issued on 2 September, seeking a written response within 48 hours and asking why the office should not be sealed. After the deadline passed without an adequate response, the department escalated to a full vacating order, directing that the seventh and eighth floors be cleared and communicating this to the building's owner.
A Pattern of Escalating Trouble at Camac Street
The fire safety action adds a fresh layer to a controversy that has been building around Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office since late August. On 27 August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the premises to remove what they described as an illegal billboard mounted on the building's roof.
They were met with stiff resistance from TMC activists reportedly led by Abhishek Banerjee, party leader Derek O'Brien, and other senior members. Scuffles broke out between police personnel and party workers, triggering a series of legal consequences.
FIRs, Arrests, and Questioning
Three First Information Reports (FIRs) were subsequently filed at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station. According to Kolkata Police, TMC activists not only assaulted on-duty officers but also allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of a female police officer.
Two of the three FIRs name Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, and other TMC leaders including Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee. So far, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Abhishek Banerjee, O'Brien, and Banerjee's personal assistant Sumit Roy have already been questioned by the Kolkata Police.
Political Context
The source material describes the TMC faction associated with Abhishek Banerjee — nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — as the party's 'original but minority' faction, signalling an internal split within the TMC that forms the backdrop to these developments. This comes amid a broader period of turbulence for the party, with the Camac Street office now at the centre of both legal and regulatory scrutiny.
With fire safety orders issued, FIRs lodged, and senior leaders questioned, the coming days are likely to determine whether the office can resume normal operations or faces sealing.
Point of View
But its timing — arriving within days of the illegal-billboard clash and the FIRs — raises questions about whether regulatory enforcement is being weaponised in a politically charged environment. That said, an expired fire safety certificate and six documented violations are verifiable facts, not allegations, and public safety cannot be subordinated to political optics. What is striking is the speed of escalation: from notice to vacating order in 48 hours, in a city where fire safety enforcement has historically moved slowly. The internal TMC fault line — with the Abhishek Banerjee faction described as 'original but minority' — adds another dimension: these pressures are landing on a faction already navigating internal party turbulence.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the West Bengal Fire Services Department ordered the TMC to vacate Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office?
The department found that the office on the seventh and eighth floors of the Camac Street building had six categories of fire safety violations and that its fire safety certificate had expired on 10 August. After a 48-hour deadline for a written response passed without compliance, the department issued a formal vacating order on 4 September.
What happened at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office on 27 August?
On 27 August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation staff and police arrived to remove an allegedly illegal billboard from the building's roof. They faced resistance from TMC activists, and scuffles broke out. Three FIRs were subsequently filed at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, and 14 people have been arrested.
Who has been named in the FIRs related to the Camac Street clash?
Two of the three FIRs name Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Humayun Kabir, and Baishwanar Chatterjee. Abhishek Banerjee, O'Brien, and Banerjee's personal assistant Sumit Roy have already been questioned by the Kolkata Police.
What specific fire safety violations were found at the Camac Street office?
Officials cited six types of irregularities in the fire safety system. The most significant was that the fire safety certificate for the premises had expired on 10 August, leaving the building without valid clearance. The department also found inadequate fire-fighting measures that it said posed a risk to public safety.
What happens next for the Camac Street office?
The fire services department has directed that the seventh and eighth floors be vacated and has sent a letter to the building's owner. The office could face sealing if the fire safety deficiencies are not rectified. Legal proceedings related to the 27 August clash are also ongoing, with police questioning of named leaders already underway.
