Abhishek Banerjee questioned by West Bengal CID in signature forgery case for nearly six hours

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the West Bengal CID and was questioned for nearly six hours in a signature forgery case tied to the party’s Leader of Opposition choice. He attended after receiving interim protection from the Calcutta High Court, having missed earlier notices due to illness and a legal challenge.

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee left the West Bengal CID headquarters on Thursday night. CID officers questioned Abhishek Banerjee for almost six hours. The questioning linked to a signature forgery case. The case concerned the party’s pick for Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. Abhishek Banerjee did not speak to reporters while leaving.

Abhishek Banerjee reached the CID office at around 5.50 pm. The Calcutta High Court had given interim protection from any coercive action. The court also told Abhishek Banerjee to appear by 6 pm. Abhishek Banerjee arrived about 10 minutes before that deadline. Abhishek Banerjee left the office at around 11.30 pm.

Abhishek Banerjee CID probe and Calcutta High Court protection

Abhishek Banerjee had missed three earlier appearance notices from CID investigators. Abhishek Banerjee cited illness each time. Abhishek Banerjee also said a challenge petition was filed before the high court. Thursday’s appearance was the first interaction with a state probe agency. This followed the change in Bengal’s power corridors.

Abhishek Banerjee returned to Kolkata around 4.30 pm from Delhi. Abhishek Banerjee had spent three days in Delhi. Meetings were held with INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. At the airport, scenes turned chaotic. A section of angry people shouted "signature chor\" slogans at Abhishek Banerjee. After about 30 minutes at the Kalighat residence, Abhishek Banerjee went to Bhabani Bhaban.

Abhishek Banerjee CID case details on TMC resolution and signatures

The CID sought the original TMC meeting resolution book and an attendance sheet. The sheet contained signatures of 70 MLAs present at the May 6 meeting. On Tuesday, officers searched the TMC central office. Searches also covered party supremo Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street office was searched too. Officers returned without finding the originals.

Investigators said the May 6 resolution was used to name key assembly posts. Based on the resolution, Abhishek Banerjee allegedly named Sobhabdeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition. Asima Patra and Nayna Bandyopadhyay were named deputy LoPs. Firhad Hakim was named chief whip. CID officers also said Abhishek Banerjee wrote to the Speaker on May 20.

CID officers said the May 20 letter enclosed a copy of the resolution book. It also enclosed the attendance sheet. The letter reiterated the party’s endorsement for the assembly posts. Two expelled TMC legislators raised objections with Speaker Rathindra Bose. The complainants were Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha. The complaint said no LoP selection resolution was adopted on May 6.

Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha also alleged signatures were added later. The complaint said the duo signed the meeting resolution book on May 19. The MLAs alleged the May 6 resolution was manufactured and fabricated. They also said as many as 14 of the 70 signatures were in block letters. These claims became part of the case being examined.

Abhishek Banerjee CID takeover from Kolkata Police and charges

The CID took over the investigation from Kolkata Police on May 28. This happened a day after Hare Street police station registered a case. The case followed a complaint from the principal secretary of the state assembly. The allegations included cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The CID summons asked Abhishek Banerjee to bring the original resolution book.

The agency said the original document was needed for mandatory forensic tests. The tests would check the genuineness of the signatures under scrutiny. Earlier, Abhishek Banerjee faced questioning by central agencies too. The agencies were ED and CBI. Those earlier rounds related to coal pilferage and the school jobs recruitment scams. Thursday’s CID questioning ended late at night.

With inputs from PTI