The Calcutta High Court on Sunday stayed the demolition of the office of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee in South 24 Parganas, a day after authorities launched a demolition drive against the property.
The demolition began on Saturday morning at Banerjee's office in Amtala on the Amtala-Baruipur Road. The administration brought in bulldozers after issuing a notice alleging that the office had been constructed without the requisite approvals.
Heavy police deployment was made around the premises to maintain law and order during the operation. Several local residents and TMC workers also gathered at the site as the demolition was underway.
What did Calcutta HC say?
The Calcutta High Court held a special hearing on Sunday on an urgent plea filed by Leaps and Bounds, which alleged that authorities were illegally demolishing its property in Amtala that houses Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's office, Bar and Bench reported.
According to Bar and Bench, the judge clarified that the court was not deciding the matter on its merits at this stage. Dutta urged the court to restrain the government from proceeding with the demolition and sought interim relief for his client.
Meanwhile, during the demolition drive, police recovered several computers, laptops and a large number of files from the building.
The demolition drive came days after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) served notices to 17 properties linked to Banerjee's associates, his family members and his firm, Leaps and Bounds. Among the properties listed was Shantiniketan, Banerjee's residence on Harish Mukherjee Road. The TMC-run civic body said the notices were issued as part of a review of property records.
The controversy intensified after the BJP released a list of 43 assets it claimed were linked to the Diamond Harbour MP, alleging that some of the properties were jointly owned with others. The party said the list was compiled using records of the Kolkata civic body.
The development comes at a time when Banerjee is facing multiple controversies and allegations. Earlier, FIRs were filed against him in connection with an alleged Rs 550 crore corruption case, including accusations of illegal soil excavation and irregularities in the distribution of relief packages after Cyclone Amphan. While the TMC has denied the allegations, the matters are currently under investigation.