TMC MP Prasun Banerjee challenges warrant against him

KOLKATA: TMC MP Prasun Banerjee today moved Barasat district court challenging the arrest warrant issued against him by a lower court for allegedly slapping a constable who had stopped his car for taking a wrong turn on the busy Lake Town-VIP Road crossing in January.

The Howrah MP's counsel Rajdeep Banerjee submitted before district judge Amitava Chatterjee that he is not an absconder and has complied with the notice for appearance sent by the police.

Banerjee challenged the legality of the arrest warrant issued on July 3 by Bidhannagar Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Ghosh, directing the police to take him into custody and produce him before the court by July 17.

Hearing in the matter was concluded and order was expected to be delivered tomorrow, the MP's counsel said.

Banerjee was booked under Section 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).

The warrant was issued by the court yesterday as the Howrah MP failed to turn up before it on a number of occasions despite notice being served upon him.

In January, Bidhannagar Police had booked Banerjee for allegedly slapping an on duty traffic constable at Lake Town area of the city. The constable had allegedly stopped his car for taking a wrong turn on the busy Lake Town-VIP Road crossing.

Banerjee had denied that he had slapped the constable.