Kolkata Police serve fresh summons to Derek O'Brien in billboard row
Synopsis
Kolkata Police rejected Derek O'Brien's plea for a seven-day extension and hand-delivered a fresh summons to his residence — a rare escalation that puts a sitting Rajya Sabha member and TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on notice within 48 hours of each other. With 14 arrests already made and charges including alleged assault on a female officer, the Camac Street billboard row is fast becoming one of West Bengal's most politically charged law-and-order cases of the year.
Key Takeaways
Kolkata Police served a fresh interrogation notice to Derek O'Brien on 31 August , summoning him to Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on 2 September .
O'Brien had skipped an earlier summons and sought a seven-day extension, which police rejected.
Abhishek Banerjee has been asked to appear at the same station by noon on 1 September .
His personal assistant Sumit Roy is also summoned for noon on 2 September .
Three FIRs name Banerjee , O'Brien , Humayun Kabir , and Baishwanar Chatterjee ; charges include alleged assault on a female officer.
14 people have been arrested so far in connection with the 27 August Camac Street incident.
Kolkata Police on Monday, 31 August served a fresh interrogation notice to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien, summoning him to Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on Wednesday, 2 September, in connection with three FIRs filed over the forcible resistance to the removal of an illegal billboard from the roof of Abhishek Banerjee's party office on Camac Street in central Kolkata. The fresh notice, delivered by hand at O'Brien's residence on Prince Anwar Shah Road in South Kolkata, came after he skipped an earlier summons and requested a seven-day extension — a plea the police declined.
Background: What Triggered the Crisis
Tension erupted on Camac Street on 27 August when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, escorted by police personnel, arrived at Banerjee's party office to dismantle an illegal billboard on the building's roof. They were met with stiff resistance from TMC activists, reportedly led by Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, and other party leaders including Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee. Scuffles broke out between the on-duty officers and the party workers, culminating in three separate FIRs being registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.
What the FIRs Allege
According to police, the FIRs accuse TMC activists of assaulting on-duty officers and, in a particularly serious charge, allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer. Banerjee, O'Brien, Kabir, and Chatterjee have been named in two of the three FIRs. As of Monday, police have arrested 14 people in connection with the incident.
O'Brien's Skipped Appearance and Fresh Notice
Under the earlier notice, O'Brien was required to present himself at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on Monday. He did not appear, and instead dispatched a letter to the city police requesting a seven-day reprieve to comply. Kolkata Police rejected the request and promptly issued a fresh summons, this time served in person at his residence. The police's swift response signals they will not accommodate further delays from named accused.
Others Summoned in the Same Matter
Sumit Roy, the personal assistant of TMC general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, has also been summoned for interrogation at the same police station at the same time — noon on Wednesday, 2 September. Separately, Abhishek Banerjee himself has been asked to appear at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on Tuesday, 1 September. The coordinated summonses suggest investigators are seeking simultaneous accounts from multiple key figures.
What Happens Next
With the police having rejected O'Brien's extension request and delivering the notice directly to his door, any further non-compliance could escalate the legal proceedings significantly. The case has drawn attention to the broader question of illegal hoardings and political impunity in West Bengal, a recurring flashpoint between civic authorities and party machinery. How Banerjee and O'Brien respond to their respective summonses on Tuesday and Wednesday will determine the next phase of the investigation.
Point of View
Functioning under a TMC-governed state, that is pressing charges against TMC leaders. That internal friction, more than the billboard itself, is the real story. If Banerjee and O'Brien comply, the party absorbs a reputational blow. If they defy the summonses, the legal exposure multiplies. Either way, the Camac Street incident has handed the opposition a ready-made accountability narrative ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Derek O'Brien been summoned by Kolkata Police?
Derek O'Brien has been summoned for interrogation in connection with three FIRs registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station over the violent resistance to the removal of an illegal billboard from Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street party office on 27 August. He has been named in two of the three FIRs alongside Banerjee and other TMC leaders.
What happened on Camac Street on 27 August?
KMC staff and police personnel arrived at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office to remove an illegal billboard from the rooftop. They faced resistance from TMC activists, reportedly led by Banerjee and O'Brien, and scuffles broke out. Three FIRs were subsequently filed, including charges of assaulting on-duty officers and allegedly attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer.
Why was a fresh notice served to O'Brien?
O'Brien skipped his original Monday summons and sent a letter requesting a seven-day extension. Kolkata Police rejected the plea and immediately issued a fresh notice, hand-delivered to his South Kolkata residence, requiring his appearance by noon on Wednesday, 2 September.
Who else has been summoned in the Camac Street billboard case?
Abhishek Banerjee has been asked to appear at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on Tuesday, 1 September. His personal assistant Sumit Roy has been summoned for noon on Wednesday, 2 September — the same time as O'Brien.
How many people have been arrested in the billboard row so far?
Kolkata Police have arrested 14 people in connection with the 27 August Camac Street incident as of Monday, 31 August. The arrests relate to charges of assaulting police personnel and related offences under the three registered FIRs.
