Abhishek Banerjee Summons: Kolkata Police ask the TMC MP to appear at Bhawanipore Police Station over his alleged social media remarks about Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Asked to Appear Before Bhawanipore Police Station by 12:30 PM on Saturday in Connection with an FIR Filed Over His Social Media Remarks
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata, November 14, 2026
Abhishek Banerjee Summons has become the centre of a fresh political and legal controversy in West Bengal after Kolkata Police directed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP to appear at Bhawanipore Police Station on Saturday. The notice reportedly asks him to be present by 12:30 PM in connection with a criminal case registered over a social media post concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Abhishek Banerjee summons relates to a post published by the TMC leader on the social media platform X on May 2. The post allegedly contained remarks directed at the country’s Chief Election Commissioner, prompting a complaint from a resident of Bhawanipore. Following the complaint, police registered an FIR against the parliamentarian on May 27 and have now sought his appearance for questioning as part of the investigation.
Complaint Alleges Communal Remarks Against Gujarat Community
The complaint was lodged by Arnab Kanti Das, a resident of the Bhawanipore area, who objected to the language allegedly used by Banerjee in his social media post. According to the complainant, the TMC MP had described Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a “puppet of an anti-Bengali Gujarati gang”. He alleged that the statement was intended to create hostility and spread hatred through social media. The complainant further argued that the reference to a Gujarati community as a gang was inappropriate and potentially damaging to communal harmony. He maintained that such language could encourage prejudice against an entire community and undermine the country’s pluralistic social fabric. On the basis of the complaint, Bhawanipore Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The allegations reportedly include offences relating to promoting enmity, encouraging violence, attempting to create public disorder, abetting offences against the State and spreading rumours.
Complainant Raises Questions Over National Unity and Constitutional Responsibility
In his complaint, Das argued that Banerjee’s remarks could adversely affect communal harmony and national integration.He reportedly pointed out that an elected Member of Parliament takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Against this background, he questioned the alleged reference to an entire Gujarati community as a criminal group. The complainant maintained that criticism of an individual constitutional authority should not become an occasion to stigmatise an entire linguistic or regional community. He also expressed concern that such statements, particularly when made by an elected public representative with a substantial political following, could deepen social divisions and damage relations between communities.The complaint therefore sought immediate legal action against the TMC leader.
The latest notice indicates that police want to question Banerjee regarding the allegations and the circumstances surrounding his social media post.His appearance has been sought at Bhawanipore Police Station by 12:30 PM on Saturday. The investigation will examine the complaint and the statements attributed to him.The case has brought renewed attention to the responsibilities of public representatives when expressing political criticism on social media, particularly when their remarks involve constitutional authorities and identifiable communities.
However, the allegations remain subject to investigation. Registration of an FIR or issuance of a police notice does not establish guilt, and the accused is entitled to due process under the law.The political and legal implications of the case are likely to remain a subject of discussion in West Bengal as the police proceed with their inquiry.
