Kolkata: Kolkata Police on Sunday issued a summons to Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien in connection with FIRs filed over the removal of an allegedly illegal billboard from the roof of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in central Kolkata.

In the notice, O’Brien has been asked to appear before the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station by noon on August 31.

The development comes a day after police officers from the same station visited the residence of Abhishek Banerjee and served him a summons in connection with the same case. Banerjee has been asked to appear at the police station by noon on September 1.

Kolkata Police Serve Notice to Derek O’Brien

Officers from Shakespeare Sarani Police Station arrived at O’Brien’s residence on Prince Anwar Shah Road in south Kolkata shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday.

“After several knocks, a representative of O’Brien came out, and our officers handed over the interrogation notice to him,” a city police officer said.

Neither Abhishek Banerjee nor Derek O’Brien has made it clear whether they will appear at the police station for questioning in the matter.

Scuffle Over Billboard Removal

Tension broke out on Camac Street on Thursday afternoon when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff, accompanied by police personnel, reached Abhishek Banerjee’s office to remove the allegedly illegal billboard.

KMC officials and police personnel reportedly faced resistance from Trinamool Congress activists led by Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and other party leaders.

Scuffles subsequently broke out between police personnel and party activists.

According to the three FIRs registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, police have accused Trinamool Congress activists of assaulting on-duty police personnel and attempting to outrage the modesty of a female police officer.

14 Arrested in Billboard Case

Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien and other Trinamool Congress leaders, including Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee, have been named in two of the three FIRs registered in connection with the incident.

Police have arrested 14 people so far in connection with the case.

The investigation is underway, with police questioning those named in the FIRs and examining the circumstances surrounding the confrontation over the billboard.