Kolkata, Aug 31 (PTI) A joint team of Kolkata Police and fire department officials on Monday visited the Camac Street office of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to conduct a fire safety audit and examine the building plan, an official said.
The visit came four days after a team of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials and police personnel visited the premises to remove a billboard, triggering a confrontation with Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers and private security personnel of the building.
Fire department officials inspected the safety arrangements at the premises and also examined the building plan.
A senior fire department official said the exercise was a routine regulatory inspection and that the premises would be assessed based on applicable fire safety and building norms.
“We will conduct several tests. We will check the pumps and water pressure. Going by the initial inspection, the basement seems to be fine. We will conduct more inspections here,” the official leading the team said.
The latest visit comes amid a political controversy surrounding Banerjee’s Camac Street office, with the TMC alleging that repeated actions by the administration were politically motivated.
The party had earlier alleged that civic officials and police personnel arrived at Banerjee’s office last Thursday without showing prior written notice or a copy of a valid order while attempting to remove the billboard.
The move led to heated arguments and a scuffle between officials and TMC workers.
Banerjee subsequently accused the state administration of misusing its powers and targeting his office, alleging that the action was politically motivated.
Three FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident, involving allegations including obstruction of government officials, assault and outraging the modesty of a woman.
Banerjee has been named in two of the FIRs.
Police have summoned Banerjee to appear before Shakespeare Sarani police station by noon on September 1 in connection with the cases.
Banerjee has also questioned why copies of the FIRs and the police notice were not available on the official Kolkata Police website.
Police have maintained that the FIR was uploaded within the stipulated time and that its copy is available on the website.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien has also been summoned in connection with the case and has sought seven days to appear before police.
The latest inspection at the Camac Street premises is likely to keep the political controversy surrounding the office in focus. PTI SCH MNB
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