Abhishek Banerjee Questioned for 6 Hrs in Signature Forgery Case

• Abhishek Banerjee questioned by CID for nearly six hours.
• Probe relates to alleged forgery in TMC resolution on Opposition posts.
• TMC MP appeared after Calcutta High Court granted interim protection.
• CID seeks original resolution book and attendance records for forensic examination.

GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 12th June: Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee was questioned for nearly six hours by the West Bengal CID on Thursday in connection with the alleged signature forgery case linked to the party’s selection of the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.

Banerjee arrived at the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhavan around 5:50 pm after securing interim protection from coercive action from the Calcutta High Court. He left the agency’s office around 11:30 pm after prolonged questioning.

The TMC leader did not speak to reporters while leaving the premises.

This was Banerjee’s first appearance before a state investigative agency since the political developments that reshaped West Bengal’s power corridors. He had earlier been questioned multiple times by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in separate cases related to the coal pilferage and school recruitment scams.

Banerjee had skipped three earlier summons issued by the CID, citing health reasons and his pending legal challenge before the Calcutta High Court.

Earlier in the day, he returned to Kolkata from New Delhi, where he had spent three days meeting INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. His arrival at the airport witnessed tense scenes, with some individuals allegedly raising slogans accusing him of involvement in the signature controversy.

After a brief stop at his Kalighat residence, Banerjee proceeded to the CID headquarters, arriving ahead of the court-mandated deadline of 6 pm under heavy security arrangements.

The investigation relates to allegations surrounding a Trinamool Congress meeting held on May 6, where party legislators reportedly endorsed appointments to key assembly positions, including the Leader of Opposition.

According to investigators, Banerjee subsequently communicated the party’s decisions to Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose through a letter dated May 20, enclosing copies of the meeting resolution and attendance records.

The controversy erupted after expelled TMC legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha alleged that no such resolution had been adopted during the May 6 meeting. They claimed they signed the resolution register only on May 19 and alleged that the document had been fabricated.

The complainants further alleged that 14 of the 70 signatures appearing on the attendance sheet were written in block letters and questioned their authenticity.

Based on the disputed resolution, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay was reportedly nominated as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, while Asima Patra and Nayna Bandyopadhyay were named deputy leaders and Firhad Hakim was designated chief whip.

The CID took over the probe from Kolkata Police on May 28, a day after a case was registered at Hare Street Police Station following a complaint from the state assembly’s principal secretary.

The case includes charges of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

Earlier this week, CID officers conducted searches at the Trinamool Congress headquarters at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence and at Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in an effort to recover the original resolution book and attendance register. However, investigators reportedly returned empty-handed.

The agency has directed Banerjee to produce the original resolution book for forensic examination as it seeks to determine the authenticity of the signatures and documents at the centre of the controversy.

The investigation is continuing.