Calcutta HC orders KMC report on Abhishek Banerjee residence structures in 7 days
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has put the KMC on a seven-day clock to detail any unauthorised construction at Abhishek Banerjee's Harish Chatterjee Street residence and at Leaps and Bounds. With notices reportedly covering up to 17 properties tied to the TMC MP and his relatives, the civic file is no longer a routine compliance matter — it is now a politically charged court record.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 3 June directed the KMC to file a report within seven days on alleged unauthorised structures at Abhishek Banerjee's residence and Leaps and Bounds premises.
Justice Smita Das De asked for specifics on the nature, location and extent of any deviations against the total built-up area.
Property owners — Banerjee's parents Amit and Lata Banerjee — must place their response on record within two weeks .
KMC notices were issued under Section 401 of the KMC Act, with reports indicating up to 17 properties linked to Banerjee and his relatives are under scrutiny.
The next hearing is scheduled after four weeks .
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 3 June, directed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to submit a detailed report within seven days, backed by documentary evidence, identifying any unauthorised structures at the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee and at the premises of his firm, Leaps and Bounds. The order, issued by Justice Smita Das De, has reignited political debate around the Diamond Harbour MP's properties in Kolkata.
What the court directed
The bench instructed the civic body to specify the exact nature and location of any deviations found at Banerjee's residence, along with the extent of unauthorised construction relative to the total built-up area of the property. The KMC has been given a strict seven-day window to file its findings.
Alongside the civic body's submission, the court has asked the property owners to place their position on record within two weeks, addressing whether any portion of the construction is illegal and, if so, to what extent. The next hearing is scheduled after four weeks.
How the case reached the High Court
The petition was moved by Abhishek Banerjee's parents, Amit Banerjee and Lata Banerjee, who approached the High Court seeking to quash the KMC's notice regarding their house at 29-C, Harish Chatterjee Street in Kolkata. The couple has maintained that the residence was built legally and that the civic notice on alleged illegal construction is untenable.
Their plea seeks the dismissal of the KMC's notice, arguing that the municipal body acted against what they describe as a lawfully constructed property.
Notices to Leaps and Bounds
The KMC has, in recent weeks, served multiple notices to addresses linked to Abhishek Banerjee, including properties along Kalighat Road and Harish Mukherjee Road. According to municipal sources, the notices were issued under Section 401 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, demanding approved building plans, construction documents and permits for any additional work.
About a week before the High Court order, Leaps and Bounds sought a 10-day extension from the KMC's Building Department, stating in a letter that it was prepared to furnish all requested information but required additional time to compile the documents.
The scale of the inquiry
While initial reports flagged notices on two properties, subsequent accounts in various outlets indicated the list had widened to as many as 17 properties, reportedly including some registered in the names of Abhishek Banerjee's relatives. Allegations under examination suggest that, in certain cases, construction may have deviated from the sanctioned plans.
What happens next
The High Court will take its next step based on the KMC's report and the property owners' submissions. With the next hearing four weeks away, both political and administrative circles in West Bengal are watching closely for the civic body's findings, which could set the tone for further legal and political developments.
Point of View
Including those of relatives, signals that this is no longer a localised building-plan dispute. Whether the KMC's report reads as forensic or formulaic will tell us a great deal about the autonomy of municipal enforcement in Bengal today.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court order on Abhishek Banerjee's residence?
The Calcutta High Court on 3 June directed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to submit a report within seven days, with documentary evidence, on any unauthorised structures at Abhishek Banerjee's residence and at the premises of his firm Leaps and Bounds. Justice Smita Das De also asked the property owners to place their response on record within two weeks.
Who filed the case in the High Court?
Abhishek Banerjee's parents, Amit Banerjee and Lata Banerjee, moved the Calcutta High Court seeking to quash the KMC's notice on their house at 29-C, Harish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata. They have maintained that the property was built legally.
How many properties are under KMC scrutiny?
Initial notices focused on two properties, but subsequent reports indicate that the KMC has issued notices concerning as many as 17 properties linked to Abhishek Banerjee, his firm Leaps and Bounds, and some of his relatives. The properties are located along Kalighat Road and Harish Mukherjee Road, among other addresses.
Under which law has the KMC issued the notices?
The notices were issued under Section 401 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, requiring submission of approved building plans, construction documents and permits for any additional construction. The provision empowers the civic body to act against deviations from sanctioned plans.
When is the next hearing in the case?
The Calcutta High Court has scheduled the next hearing after four weeks. Further orders will be based on the KMC's report and the submissions of the property owners.
