West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Akash Banerjee, 21, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting an on-duty traffic police officer in the Kidderpore area of Kolkata. Special police commissioner Sivaji Ghosh claimed the arrest was made on the “instructions of the chief minister”.
The incident occurred at around 11 am when Akash and two of his friends arrived in their car at Kidderpore. According to eyewitnesses, their car violated traffic rules and entered from the wrong side. Officer in charge of Vidyasagar Subir Ghosh and his team were on duty there. “Overtaking a vehicle, the car stopped in the middle of the road, obstructing the opposite flank and causing a traffic snarl. A traffic constable asked them to move,” he said. Instead of clearing the road, the infuriated youth got out of the car and abused and manhandled the constable. “Thereafter Mr Ghosh intervened but the youth, who claimed to be the CM’s nephew, slapped the OC,” an eyewitness said.
Akash, his two friends Nitish Singh and Amit Mishra, and driver Mohammed Sharfuddin were taken to Watgunge police station. Akash introduced himself as the “CM’s nephew” and gave his address as 30-B, Harish Chatterjee Street, which is Ms Banerjee’s residential address. They were let off without being booked.
Their release triggered a public outcry in the area. Locals and Congress activists blocked the road in protest. In the meantime, the incident was widely reported by local news channels.
“As soon as the CM received the information, she asked us to investigate the incident and arrest the accused. The four have been booked under Sections 353, 341, 323, 114 of the IPC and the Motor Vehicles Act,” said the special commissioner of police.
Akash, his two friends and the driver were arrested.
Their black Toyota Innova (WB 06H 5686) was impounded. Akash is the son of Kali Banerjee, the elder brother of Ms Banerjee.
The special police commissioner said the police would investigate why officer in charge of Watgunge police station K.A. Hashmi had allowed Akash and his associates to leave without filing any complaint against them.