Calcutta HC approached over Kolkata billboard row at Abhishek Banerjee's office
Synopsis
KMC officials backed by Kolkata Police removed a billboard from Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office on Thursday, sparking scuffles with Trinamool workers. By Friday, the Mamata Banerjee-led faction was at the Calcutta High Court's door — a sign that what began as a civic enforcement action has quickly become a political and legal flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress approached the Calcutta High Court on 28 August over the removal of a billboard from Abhishek Banerjee's office on Camac Street , Kolkata.
KMC staff, accompanied by Kolkata Police , dismantled the billboard on Thursday at 4:45 pm , triggering two rounds of scuffles with party workers.
Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury permitted the case to be filed but stated he could not hear it until a case number was registered.
Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty had directed the petitioner to approach Justice Basu Chowdhury's bench.
KMC and Kolkata Police are to be notified as respondents; an urgent hearing remains pending.
The faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, 28 August moved a special single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, seeking relief over the forcible removal of a billboard from the roof of Abhishek Banerjee's office on Camac Street in central Kolkata. The move came a day after Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials, backed by Kolkata Police, dismantled what authorities described as an illegal hoarding — triggering scuffles between police and party workers.
What Happened at Camac Street
On Thursday at 4:45 pm, KMC staff arrived at the Camac Street office of Abhishek Banerjee — the party's Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member and nephew of Mamata Banerjee — and began dismantling the billboard. The operation sparked two rounds of scuffles between police personnel and Trinamool Congress activists before the hoarding was eventually removed. Abhishek Banerjee had on Thursday announced his intention to challenge the action in the Calcutta High Court.
Trinamool's Plea Before Justice Basu Chowdhury
Trinamool Congress counsel Kishore Dutta, a former advocate general of West Bengal, drew the attention of the special single-judge bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury to the matter on Friday. Justice Basu Chowdhury granted permission to file a case but made clear that he could not hear the matter until a case number was formally registered. He also directed the petitioner to notify the other parties — KMC and Kolkata Police — about the proceedings.
Acting Chief Justice's Role
According to Dutta, the office of Calcutta High Court Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty had been informed about the matter on Thursday, and it was Acting Chief Justice Chakrabarty who directed the petitioner to approach Justice Basu Chowdhury's bench. As of Friday, a decision on Trinamool's plea for an urgent hearing remained pending, subject to the case number being made available.
Significance and What Comes Next
The episode underscores the escalating tension between civic authorities and Trinamool Congress in Kolkata, with the party treating the billboard removal as a politically motivated act rather than a routine enforcement drive. Notably, this is not the first time that billboard and hoarding disputes have become flashpoints in West Bengal's political landscape. The case is expected to come up for hearing before Justice Basu Chowdhury once registration formalities are completed, with both KMC and Kolkata Police likely to be heard as respondents.
Point of View
Not merely regulatory. What is notable is that KMC itself is a Trinamool-governed body, raising questions about internal party dynamics and whether this reflects a deeper factional fault line. The Calcutta High Court will now have to navigate a dispute that is as much about political optics as it is about hoarding regulations.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Trinamool Congress approach the Calcutta High Court?
Trinamool Congress moved the Calcutta High Court on 28 August after Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, backed by Kolkata Police, removed a billboard from the roof of Abhishek Banerjee's office on Camac Street. The party contested the removal and sought judicial relief, with counsel Kishore Dutta drawing the court's attention to the matter.
What happened at Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office on Thursday?
KMC staff arrived at the Camac Street office at 4:45 pm on Thursday and began dismantling a billboard described as illegal. The action led to two rounds of scuffles between police personnel and Trinamool Congress activists before the hoarding was ultimately removed.
What did the Calcutta High Court say on Friday?
Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury permitted Trinamool Congress to file a case but said he could not hear the matter until a formal case number was available. He also directed the petitioner to notify KMC and Kolkata Police as parties to the case.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee?
Abhishek Banerjee is the Trinamool Congress MP from the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency and the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The billboard in dispute was located on the roof of his party office on Camac Street in central Kolkata.
What role did Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty play?
According to Trinamool's counsel, Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakrabarty was informed about the matter on Thursday and directed the petitioner to approach Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury's special single-judge bench for relief.
