Trinamool strongman Anubrata Mondal, accused of abusing Bolpur inspector-in-charge Liton Halder and issuing sex threats to his family over the phone, sidestepped a police notice for personal appearance on Saturday citing health problems.

The former Birbhum Trinamool chief, however, visited the party office in the evening accompanied by his government-provided security, as though to taunt the police, raising speculation that Mamata Banerjee’s blue-eyed boy might escape punishment for his latest indiscretion too.

The Bolpur SDPO office, where Anubrata had been asked to meet the investigating officer, is 2km from the party office. In the morning, Anubrata’s team of five lawyers had visited the SDPO’s office and sought more time, citing his health issues. The police then served a second notice, asking Anubrata to appear for questioning at 11am on Sunday.

Anubrata “may consider” turning up on Sunday, Bolpur MLA and minister Chandranath Sinha told reporters.

Saturday’s developments and Anubrata’s conduct prompted questions among lower-rung police officers whether he would be spared even after using abusive language against the wife and mother of a senior police officer.

“This is what happens again and again. This time, he was at least served with a notice to face police interrogation. But we doubt that any proper action will be taken against him,” said a senior police officer who had held charge of several police stations in Birbhum over six years.

Trinamool insiders had on Friday recalled how the party leadership had repeatedly allowed Anubrata to get away with his foul-mouthed rants and bully behaviour, and said this had turned him into a “Frankenstein’s monster”.

Anubrata had on Wednesday night allegedly called Halder over the phone and abused him and his family in vile language. An audio clip, purportedly of the conversation, that began circulating widely on social media on Thursday left the police and Trinamool deeply embarrassed.

This led to Friday’s notice and a case under four sections of criminal law, two of them non-bailable.

An officer said that since these sections carried punishments of less than seven years, Anubrata had not been arrested but served with a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

Section 35(3) outlines a procedure for police officers to issue notices to individuals against whom a reasonable complaint has been made, credible information received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of a cognisable offence, where arrest is not immediately required. The notice directs the individual to appear before a police officer or at a specified location.

The officer who spoke to this newspaper said an ordinary citizen facing the same charge as Anubrata would not have been shown the same leniency as the Trinamool leader.

“They would have been hauled to the police station,” he said. “The irony is that apart from being given a long rope, the police are also providing personal security to Anubrata as he enjoys government protection.”

The question on every mind is, how will the police act if Anubrata continues to defy their summonses?

Asked how the police intended to deal with Anubrata, Birbhum police chief Amandeep told The Telegraph: “We have served the second notice. The police will follow the law and ensure strict action against the accused leader.”

A senior officer said that as a rule, the police issue up to three notices under Section 35(3) of the BNSS to a non-compliant individual, after which the accused can be arrested.

“If he skips questioning three times, the police can arrest him at any time,” the officer said. “The police can also arrest anyone if they believe there is a risk of evidence tampering.”

Senior advocate and CPM leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya argued that instead of issuing notices, the police should have arrested Anubrata immediately.

“But they won’t. This is how Anubrata Mondal has been treated by the police for years,” Bhattacharyya said.

He recalled his visit to Shibpur village in Bolpur years ago in connection with a land protest. “After my visit, accompanied by Congress leader Abdul Mannan, he threatened a senior police officer; and yet no action was taken.”

In 2017, Anubrata reportedly threatened then Birbhum deputy superintendent of police Kashinath Mistri, setting a deadline for the arrest of certain people from Shibpur. He threatened to enter the area with his men if the officer failed to comply.

A source said the police were documenting Anubrata’s behaviour, including his failure to comply with the summons while visiting the party office. These records, an officer said, might be used in future proceedings if he continues to evade summonses.

On Saturday evening, Anubrata met his close associates, including minister Sinha, Suri MLA Bikash Roy Chowdhury, and an advocate who had earlier visited the SDPO’s office as his representative.

“He was very unwell since morning because of the tensions from yesterday. He may consider going there (the SDPO’s office) tomorrow,” Sinha told reporters outside the Bolpur party office.

Officers said they intended to seize the mobile phone from which Anubrata had made the call to Halder, and would record the statements of any witnesses who may have been present during the call.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said he did not expect any action to be taken against Anubrata. Instead, he suggested, the Bolpur inspector-in-charge (IC) might be suspended for standing up to him.

“He (Anubrata) will appear in court and get bail easily.… Eventually, you’ll see the IC of Bolpur will be suspended,” Adhikari said.

A Trinamool leader in Birbhum said Anubrata might approach a court for bail on Monday, but cannot avoid police interrogation.

A police officer too said: “He has to comply with the police notice as it is part of the investigation. Getting bail from the court cannot shield him from being questioned by the police.”

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh sought to underscore that the party had “immediately” asked Anubrata to apologise and expressed support for the legal process.

He did not comment on Anubrata’s failure to respond to the summons and his visit to the party office instead.

“The party’s silence suggests the leadership will not take further action against him as he has apologised,” a senior Trinamool leader said on the condition of anonymity.

“This shows he continues to enjoy the blessings of the top leadership despite such low and unacceptable behaviour.”