Trinamool Congress general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee did not turn up for interrogation despite summons from the CID.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Calcutta High Court granted permission to Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) to file a petition in the court seeking protection against any coercive action by the West Bengal CID over its probe on allegations of signature forgery against him. The court is likely to hear the matter later this week.
The legal team representing the Trinamool moved the court challenging the case. Mr. Abhishek’s counsel reportedly argued that the leader had no connection with the case.
A vacation Bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Ray allowed the matter to be heard on Friday (June 5), sources said.
Later during the day, Enforcement Directorate officials reached Mr. Abhishek’s residence in Kalighat and served him a notice, asking him to appear before them for questioning in the primary teacher recruitment scam.
Two Trinamool MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee (of Uluberia Purba) and Sandipan Saha (of Entally), had filed an official complaint with the West Bengal Assembly Speaker, stating that the Trinamool general secretary had forged multiple signatures in a letter declaring Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the party’s choice for the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the House. Following this, an FIR was filed against Mr. Abhishek, and the CID was told to probe the case.
The letter, submitted by Mr. Abhishek on May 20, to announce the party’s decisions on the LoP and Chief Whip for the Assembly, had signatures of approximately 70 MLAs approving the choice. However, nearly 12 names in these were highlighted in bold. Mr. Ritabrata and Mr. Saha have alleged that these signatures were forged and have claimed that many MLAs, like them, were not involved in the selection process.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had said that the complaints by the two Trinamool MLAs led to the filing of an FIR and summons against Mr. Abhishek. Subsequently, the two MLAs were expelled from the party.
The CID team had summoned the Trinamool’s second-in-command and had asked him to appear in Bhawani Bhawan (the State police headquarters) on June 1. However, he did not appear before the CID officials and had sought a 15-day extension citing health issues. CID officials had also visited his residence.
The controversy over forged signatures has triggered a rift in the Trinamool as the party has split into two. At least 58 MLAs have engineered a split in the party and declared themselves the principal Opposition with Ritabrata Banerjee as their choice for Leader of Opposition.
Mr. Ritabrata said that Mr. Abhishek may appear before the CID for a deposition on Thursday (June 4).
Published – June 03, 2026 02:26 pm IST
