Court refuses to recall arrest warrant against TMC MP

A city court today refused to recall a warrant of arrest against Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Prasun Banerjee in connection with his alleged slapping of a police constable in January.
Bidhannagar Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Ghosh, who had directed the police to take Banerjee into custody and produce him before his court by July 17, refused to entertain a plea by Banerjee's counsel to recall the warrant.
The warrant was issued by the court yesterday as the Howrah MP failed to turn up before it despite notice being served upon him.
The counsel submitted that charge sheet in the case has been submitted and that Banerjee was not an absconder.

He told the ACJM that the footballer-turned-politician would appear before the court as and when directed.
In January, Bidhannagar Police had booked Banerjee for allegedly slapping an on duty traffic constable after he allegedly stopped the MP's car for taking a wrong turn on the busy Lake Town-VIP Road crossing in the city .
Banerjee had denied that he had slapped the constable.
He has been 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), a senior police officer of the Bidhannagar Commissionerate said.