The probe into the alleged forgery of signatures in the Legislative Assembly gathered pace on Saturday as the CID questioned senior Trinamool Congress MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay at his Bhavanipur residence.

According to sources, a CID team visited Chattopadhyay’s residence in the morning and interrogated him for nearly half an hour. The senior leader, who had been projected as a potential Leader of the Opposition from the TMC in the Assembly, is said to have cooperated fully with investigators. He reportedly assured officials of extending all possible assistance in the ongoing probe.

The case originates from allegations by rebel Trinamool MLAs, who claimed that their signatures had been forged in Assembly-related documents. On Saturday, investigators are believed to have questioned Chattopadhyay in detail regarding a party meeting linked to the controversy.

Earlier questioning of senior leaders

The investigation has already seen several top leaders being examined. Among them is the party’s General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who was summoned multiple times to the CID headquarters at Bhavani Bhavan. At one stage, investigators conducted a face-to-face interrogation of Abhishek Banerjee and party spokesperson and MLA Kunal Ghosh.

As part of the probe, a five-member CID team had earlier visited Abhishek Banerjee’s residence at 188A, Harish Mukherjee Road, to serve an official notice. However, he was not present at the time. The team later proceeded to his Kalighat residence, where the notice was handed over to him personally. He subsequently appeared before investigators at Bhavani Bhavan.

Search operations across locations

The CID has also carried out searches at multiple locations linked to the case. Officials earlier conducted a search at a party office near the Kalighat residence of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, though nothing incriminating was reportedly recovered.

Investigators also visited premises at 29D, Harish Chatterjee Street, where relatives of the Chief Minister are believed to reside, as part of efforts to gather further information.

Police sources indicate that the focus of the investigation is to determine how the alleged forgery was executed and identify those involved. With several leaders already questioned and more likely to be summoned, officials suggest that the probe will intensify in the coming days.

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