Fire safety notice served on Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata office amid August 27 clash row
Synopsis
On the same evening that Abhishek Banerjee was questioned for six hours over the August 27 billboard clash, West Bengal's fire department served a notice on his Camac Street office citing six safety violations — including a fire certificate that lapsed on 10 August. The office now faces sealing if it cannot respond within 48 hours.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal fire services issued a notice to Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office in Central Kolkata on 2 September .
The notice cites six categories of fire safety irregularities across the 7th and 8th floors of the building.
The fire safety certificate for the office reportedly expired on 10 August .
A written response has been sought within 48 hours ; the office could face sealing if lapses are not addressed.
The notice was served on the same day Banerjee was questioned for over six hours at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station over the August 27 billboard clash.
Banerjee has called the administrative actions a political vendetta and said he will not bow to pressure.
West Bengal's fire services department on Tuesday night, 2 September issued a formal notice to Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, citing multiple fire safety violations at his Camac Street office in Central Kolkata. The notice arrives as the office remains at the centre of a broader controversy linked to an August 27 clash over the removal of an allegedly illegal billboard from the building's rooftop.
What the Notice Alleges
A team from the state fire services department inspected the office on 31 August, and on the basis of that inspection, the notice was served two days later. According to sources aware of the development, the department cited six categories of irregularities in the fire safety system across the 7th and 8th floors of the building where Banerjee's office is located.
Among the lapses flagged, the fire safety certificate for the premises had reportedly expired on 10 August — more than three weeks before the inspection. The notice has demanded a written response within 48 hours and has also sought an explanation as to why the office should not be sealed given the inadequate fire safety arrangements.
The August 27 Backdrop
The Camac Street office has been under scrutiny since an August 27 confrontation, during which Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, and their associates were accused of allegedly obstructing Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff and Kolkata Police personnel from removing what authorities described as an illegal billboard mounted on the roof of the building. First Information Reports (FIRs) were subsequently lodged in connection with the incident.
The fire notice was served on the same day that Abhishek was questioned for over six hours at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station in connection with those August 27 clashes.
Banerjee Alleges Political Vendetta
Following the marathon interrogation, Abhishek — who is also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — publicly rejected the administrative actions as politically motivated. He claimed the steps being taken against him amounted to a political vendetta and asserted that he would not yield to such pressure.
His remarks reflect a growing confrontation between the Trinamool Congress leadership and state enforcement agencies, even as the party currently governs West Bengal.
What Happens Next
The fire services department's 48-hour deadline for a written response means Banerjee's office must reply or face the possibility of sealing. The police investigation into the August 27 clashes is also ongoing. How the Trinamool Congress leadership navigates simultaneous legal, administrative, and political pressure on one of its most prominent figures will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
And inspectors found six categories of violations. The more pointed question is why routine fire compliance was not maintained at the office of one of Bengal's most powerful politicians. Administrative accountability should not be contingent on political optics, and the fire department's move, whatever its timing, rests on a verifiable inspection report.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a fire safety notice issued to Abhishek Banerjee's office?
West Bengal's fire services department inspected Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office on 31 August and found six categories of fire safety violations, including an expired fire safety certificate. Based on the inspection findings, a formal notice was served on the night of 2 September demanding a response within 48 hours.
What are the specific fire safety violations cited in the notice?
According to sources, the notice cites six types of irregularities in the fire safety system at the 7th and 8th floors of the Camac Street building. The fire safety certificate for the premises had reportedly expired on 10 August, among other lapses. The department has also sought an explanation as to why the office should not be sealed.
What is the August 27 billboard clash linked to Abhishek Banerjee's office?
On 27 August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation staff and Kolkata Police personnel attempted to remove an allegedly illegal billboard from the roof of the Camac Street building. Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, and their associates were accused of allegedly obstructing this removal, leading to FIRs being filed against them.
Was Abhishek Banerjee questioned by police on the same day as the fire notice?
Yes. Abhishek Banerjee was questioned for over six hours at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station on 2 September in connection with the August 27 clashes, and the fire safety notice was served by the state fire department on the same night.
What has Abhishek Banerjee said in response to these actions?
After his police questioning, Abhishek Banerjee publicly stated that all administrative actions being initiated against him were the result of political vendetta. He also asserted that he would not bow down to such pressure.
