The Scientific Wing of the Kolkata Police on Monday, 31 August conducted a detailed forensic inspection of the party office of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at 9 Camac Street in central Kolkata, as investigators moved to substantiate charges filed in three First Information Reports (FIRs) linked to the forcible removal of an illegal billboard. The inspection marks a significant escalation in a case that has already drawn in senior Trinamool leadership.

What the Forensic Team Did

Officers from the Scientific Wing — which functions under the Detective Department of Kolkata Police and provides technical and scientific support to criminal investigations — examined the building methodically. They documented how the premises were obstructed from the main gate through to the staircases, prepared detailed sketches, and photographed the structure from multiple angles. Inspectors also recorded specifics including stair counts, dimensions, and the approximate holding capacity of the space.

Earlier the same day, state fire services officials separately visited 9 Camac Street to assess fire safety compliance at the building.

The Three FIRs and Who Is Named

All three FIRs were registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station following a confrontation on 27 August between Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) workers — accompanied by police — and Trinamool activists who resisted the removal of what authorities described as an illegal billboard at Banerjee's office.

The charges are serious: Trinamool activists have been accused of assaulting on-duty police personnel and, in one instance, of attempting to outrage the modesty of a female officer. Two of the three FIRs name Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien, and party leaders Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee by name.

'The charges made in the three FIRs registered in the matter are quite serious. Hence, we are taking all necessary steps to substantiate the charges. Precisely that is why the officers of the Scientific Wing had been deployed,' a city police officer said.

How the Confrontation Unfolded

Tension erupted on Camac Street on 27 August when KMC enforcement staff, backed by police, arrived at Banerjee's office to pull down the billboard. They were met with stiff resistance from party workers reportedly led by Banerjee, O'Brien, and other senior Trinamool figures. The scuffles that followed triggered the registration of all three FIRs at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.

This is not the first time Trinamool offices or leaders have faced legal scrutiny, but the direct naming of a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and the party's national general secretary in FIRs involving alleged assault on police officers gives this case unusual political weight.

What Happens Next

With forensic evidence now being gathered, investigators are expected to build a charge-sheet supported by scientific documentation. The involvement of the Scientific Wing signals that police intend to pursue the case through technical evidence rather than eyewitness testimony alone. Legal observers note that the named leaders will likely be summoned for questioning as the investigation progresses.