Kolkata: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the police at Bhowanipur police station on Saturday for questioning in connection with an FIR lodged over a social media post allegedly targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Gujarati community, an officer said.
The Diamond Harbour MP reached the police station before the scheduled time of 12.30 pm in response to a notice served on him, asking him to appear for questioning in connection with the case, he said.
The FIR was registered on May 27 following a complaint by a Bhowanipur resident, Arnab Kanti Das, over a post made by Banerjee on X on May 2.
The complainant alleged that the TMC leader had described Kumar as a "puppet of the anti-Bengali Gujarati gang" and accused him of making remarks that could spread hatred and hurt the sentiments of a particular community.
In his complaint, Das alleged that Banerjee's remarks were irresponsible and potentially harmful to communal harmony and national integrity.
He also contended that referring to the entire Gujarati community as a "gang" or criminal syndicate was an insult to the community and could undermine the country's pluralistic culture and social cohesion.
The police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those relating to promoting enmity, making statements conducive to public mischief, inciting violence and disturbing public order, among other charges.
Banerjee is being questioned by the police at Bhowanipur police station, the officer said.
The questioning comes amid a series of police cases against the TMC leader since the BJP came to power in West Bengal. Banerjee has appeared before the police and the CID on multiple occasions in connection with different cases.
On Friday, police personnel visited his residence to serve a notice asking him to appear before Girish Park police station in connection with another FIR.
In that case, the TMC MP has been accused of allegedly threatening police personnel through a social media post. He has been summoned to appear at Girish Park police station on November 20.