New Delhi/Kolkata: Delhi Police has asked former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to join an investigation into a 13-year-old case of alleged assault on public servants, as a witness. A team of Delhi Police personnel, accompanied by officers from Kalighat police station, served her the notice on Monday.The case relates to an FIR registered on April 9, 2013. On that day, Mamata, then Bengal CM, and then state finance minister Amit Mitra had visited the Planning Commission office at Yojana Bhavan on Parliament Street to discuss the state’s annual plan.On their arrival, a group of SFI activists protesting the custodial death of an SFI functionary in Kolkata gheraoed the delegation. In the ensuing melee, Mitra was manhandled, while Mamata fell ill and had to be administered oxygen.Several SFI activists were arrested following the incident, including Ritabrata Banerjee, then the organisation’s general secretary. Ritabarata has since led a rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, splitting the party.The FIR was registered under Sections 186 (obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.The notice, issued under Section 160 of the CrPC, says Mamata may be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and has therefore been asked to cooperate with the investigation.It allows her to meet the investigating officer at her office, residence or any other place of her choice. A senior police officer said she had been called as a witness because she was on the complainant’s side.
