A Calcuttan widely known for his frequent public interest litigation (PIL) petitions died of Covid on Wednesday.

Kamal Dey, 53, lived with his mother at their Thakurpukur home.

On Wednesday, the elderly woman was found stooped over his lifeless body. Neighbours called police after they realised what had happened.

Dey’s mother is Covid positive too. The police have admitted Durga Rani Devi to MR Bangur Hospital.

Some of Dey’s PILs led to court orders with long-term implications.

In 2016, Dey had filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court complaining about the flab on tummies of policemen. Dey had attached 18 photographs of policemen with round tummies in his petition where he argued that according to the Police Act 1861, if a cop was found unfit, he or she could be suspended or even sacked.

“The then inspector-general of police overseeing police welfare had to draw up a specific fitness regime for police personnel...,” said a senior IPS officer.

In 2013, he had moved the Supreme Court alleging disrespect to the Tricolour during a December 2012 cricket match between India and England and a India-Pakistan match that followed. In September 2013, the apex court had asked the Indian cricket board, the Cricket Association of Bengal and Calcutta police to prevent spectators from showing disrespect to the national flag during matches.

“On Wednesday night the local police received information from some residents and broke open the main door. The lights and fans were on. Dey’s mother sat beside him,” said a senior officer of Calcutta Police. The mother’s condition is critical.