Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the CID at Bhabani Bhawan on Thursday evening, complying with the Calcutta High Court’s directive in connection with the alleged Assembly signature forgery case.

Banerjee arrived at Kolkata Airport at exactly 4:20 PM after returning from New Delhi, leaving him with just one hour and forty minutes before the court-mandated 6 PM deadline to appear before the CID.

Despite repeated queries from the media regarding the case, he maintained silence and left the airport with a stern expression. From there, he proceeded to his residence before heading to Bhabani Bhawan, the CID headquarters.

High Court sets conditions

During the hearing earlier in the day, the Calcutta High Court directed that no coercive legal action could be taken against Banerjee without prior permission. At the same time, the court allowed investigating officers to seize relevant documents and interrogate him if necessary.

The court also instructed Banerjee to cooperate fully with the investigation and ordered that a comprehensive report be submitted within two weeks.

The CID informed the court that three notices had already been issued to Banerjee, all of which had expired. On this basis, the agency argued that his plea seeking legal protection was no longer tenable.

It maintained that Banerjee could appear before the CID voluntarily and that there was no requirement to grant him protection against possible arrest.

Allegations of signature forgery

The case revolves around a resolution allegedly sent to the Assembly Speaker bearing the signatures of several MLAs. According to the CID, the document had been forwarded by Banerjee himself.

However, several MLAs later raised complaints, claiming they were not present on the date mentioned in the resolution, thereby questioning the authenticity of the signatures.

Probe points to possible involvement

Preliminary findings of the investigation, according to the CID, indicate Banerjee’s involvement in the alleged forgery. The agency has also raised concerns over how the investigation can proceed effectively without custodial interrogation.

With legal scrutiny intensifying and political stakes rising, the case has emerged as a significant flashpoint in West Bengal’s current political landscape.

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