'No compliance by Kolkata Police': Abhishek Banerjee's counsel seeks contempt proceedings against officers over FIR delay

Their legal counsel, Arka Nag, on Sunday accused the Kolkata Police of failing to comply with Supreme Court guidelines regarding the timely uploading of FIRs.

Speaking to reporters, Arka Nag, the advocate representing Abhishek Banerjee, confirmed that a formal reply has been dispatched to the authorities.

"A notice was issued by the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station to Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien pursuant to the incident which took place on the 27th of August in the AITC office at Camac Street. In view thereof, a reply has been sent on behalf of Abhishek Banerjee," Nag said.

The advocate further alleged that the police had violated a landmark Supreme Court judgment by not making the FIR public within the mandated 24-hour window.

"The issue of the reply is very clear: it is the judgment of the Supreme Court of India that you have to upload the FIRs as soon as it has been registered, within 24 hours. But there was no compliance on behalf of the Kolkata police to that effect," he added.

Nag stated that the legal team has now initiated steps to seek accountability from the concerned police officials, citing a breach of judicial directives.

"Accordingly, we have sent out a notice saying that it is required that contempt proceedings are drawn up against the erring police officers, and the attention of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Calcutta has also been drawn up in this issue," the advocate further stated.

The incident occurred on Thursday, after personnel from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, backed by the Kolkata police, removed the signboard reading 'All India Trinamool Congress' from a building on Camac Street that houses Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office.

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee took to social media platform X to criticise the administration, stating that the State is witnessing an erosion of democratic norms. (ANI)