The Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s monthly session became the center of a fierce debate regarding the legality of residential properties belonging to councillors, especially those from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The issue came to the forefront when Ananya Banerjee, TMC councillor from Ward 109, discussed her property’s alleged illegal construction. Banerjee had raised similar concerns earlier, and during the session, she addressed the claims of her house being built without proper approval.
Banerjee admitted that her house had originally been constructed without following proper building regulations. She clarified that after the property was flagged for violations, a hearing officer had come to inspect it and subsequently ordered the demolition of the illegal portions. Banerjee stated that after this corrective action, she paid a fine of ₹35 lakh, following which her house was regularized and granted legal status by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The Mayor of Kolkata confirmed the process, stating that the house had undergone the necessary legal formalities and was now in compliance with municipal rules.
BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh, representing Ward 50, took immediate issue with the Mayor’s statement. He accused the administration of misrepresenting the facts regarding Banerjee’s house, claiming that the Mayor’s statement was misleading. Ghosh insisted that the property remained illegal and vowed to take the matter to court to provide evidence of the house's continued illegality. Ghosh also alleged that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had allowed Banerjee’s house to be regularized at a price far below the standard rates for legalizing illegal properties, suggesting that there may have been irregularities in the process.
Banerjee responded strongly to Ghosh’s allegations, asserting that her property had been fully legalized following the payment of the fine and corrective actions taken. She then turned the focus back on Ghosh, accusing him of constructing his own house illegally at 11 Huzuri Mal Lane. Banerjee claimed that Ghosh’s house had no space left around it and implied that Ghosh was guilty of the same actions he had accused her of. She further stated that although she had not previously taken legal action, she would now pursue it against Ghosh and others if necessary, for their continued allegations.
The session ended with both TMC and BJP councillors standing firm in their respective positions. Banerjee and Ghosh’s clash over the legality of their properties highlighted broader concerns about the alleged illegal constructions of municipal representatives. The dispute now extends beyond political differences, with both sides indicating a legal battle ahead. The session, originally intended to address regular municipal matters, concluded with no resolution to the ongoing controversy, setting the stage for further legal and political action.