Abhishek Banerjee appears before Kolkata Police over remarks against CEC

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before Kolkata Police on Saturday for questioning over a complaint alleging that his social media remarks against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar promoted hostility towards a community.

Banerjee reached Bhabanipur Police Station in south Kolkata before the 12.30 pm deadline mentioned in the police notice. He entered the premises without speaking to reporters gathered outside. His interrogation was underway at the time of filing this report.

The case stems from a post Banerjee published on social media on May 2, in which he allegedly described the CEC as a puppet of an anti-Bengali Gujarati group. Bhabanipur resident Arnabkanti Das subsequently filed a complaint, alleging that the remarks insulted the Gujarati community and threatened social harmony.

Kolkata Police registered an FIR on May 27 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The allegations include promoting enmity between groups, inciting violence and disturbing public order.

Police summoned Banerjee to record his response to the allegations.

In a separate case, another FIR was filed against the Trinamool leader on Friday over alleged derogatory remarks and threats directed at a serving IPS officer in West Bengal. He has been asked to appear before Girish Park Police Station on November 20 by noon in connection with that matter.

With IANS inputs