Kolkata: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, whose properties are under the scanner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), reacted sharply to the developments and threw an open challenge for anyone to prove that he had violated the civic body's building rules. On Friday, Abhishek was responding to queries from journalists regarding the notices slapped on properties that are either owned or co-owned by him, his family, or his company.
KMC Notices on Multiple Properties
On Monday, the KMC buildings department issued notices on several properties located on Harish Mukherjee Road and Kalighat Road. Visibly annoyed by the questions, Abhishek said, "Those who are asking these questions should first ask the KMC buildings department which parts of the buildings are illegal. Once they answer, I will also respond to the questions. Mark the illegal part, and I will answer."
Mamata Banerjee's Stance on Evictions
Meanwhile, at a meeting with TMC councillors at her Kalighat residence on Friday, former Chief Minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee defended the party's position on the ongoing eviction drives. According to sources, Banerjee stated that houses cannot be demolished without proper hearings, municipal regulations, and legal procedures, adding that "bulldozer" actions are impermissible. However, there was no confirmation on whether she specifically spoke about Abhishek's properties.
17 Properties Under KMC Scrutiny
As many as 17 properties linked to Abhishek are under KMC scrutiny. The civic body sent two notices based on allegations of illegal construction at two of his addresses. During an internal party meeting a couple of days ago, when the issue was discussed, Abhishek had said that he would not bow down. He stated that whether he receives notices or his house is demolished, he will continue to fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mayor's Clarification on Notices
Mayor Firhad Hakim claimed earlier that the notice was sent by municipal commissioner Smita Pandey without any discussion with him. The first of the two notices was sent in the name of Abhishek's mother, Lata Banerjee. The second notice was addressed to Leaps and Bounds, an organisation known to be associated with Abhishek.
