In a recent incident in Kolkata, Bengali actor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Soham Chakraborty allegedly slapped Anisur Alam, the owner of Kolkata Delight restaurant, after a dispute over parking escalated into a heated argument. The altercation reportedly occurred when the restaurant staff requested that Chakraborty's security staff move their vehicles, which were occupying customer parking spaces.
Alam claimed he had allowed Chakraborty to use the space above his restaurant for a shoot without charging any fees. However, tensions rose when his staff asked Chakraborty's security team to vacate the parking area to accommodate other customers. According to Alam, Chakraborty's security team responded by asserting the actor's political connections, leading Alam to retort that he didn't care about such affiliations. This exchange allegedly prompted Chakraborty to physically assault Alam, with Alam stating he was punched and kicked by the actor.
Chakraborty, however, countered that the restaurant owner had been verbally abusive towards his staff and TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, leading him to lose his temper and slap Alam. Chakraborty admitted to slapping Alam but justified his actions by citing the abusive language used against him and his staff.
CCTV footage from the restaurant captured part of the altercation, showing Chakraborty grabbing Alam by the collar, though the actual slap was not recorded on camera.
Despite the incident, the restaurant manager, Dipankar Ghosh, mentioned that no police complaint had been filed yet, citing Chakraborty's influence as an MLA. Ghosh expressed concern over the assault on their owner and the subsequent physical confrontation involving Chakraborty's security personnel.
The situation has drawn attention to the tensions between public figures and ordinary citizens, highlighting issues of influence and accountability in such disputes.
