Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee returned to Kolkata from New Delhi and appeared before the Crime Investigation Department (CID) at Bhavani Bhawan on Thursday. He arrived at Kolkata Airport at 4:20 PM and went straight to his residence without commenting on the allegations of fake signatures and the CID summons. He later proceeded to Bhavani Bhawan. The Calcutta High Court had directed him to appear before the CID by 6 PM. Banerjee reached Bhavani Bhawan before the stipulated time.
The CID had summoned Banerjee in connection with an investigation into a fake signature case. The agency alleges inconsistencies in the signatures of several MLAs on a resolution. Some MLAs claim they were not present on the date the resolution was signed. Based on these allegations, the CID initiated an investigation.
On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court granted temporary legal protection to Abhishek Banerjee. The court stated that no stringent legal action could be taken against him for the next three weeks. However, the investigating agency can seize necessary documents and question him. Banerjee has been directed to fully cooperate with the investigation. The court also instructed the submission of a progress report on the investigation at the next hearing.
The CID informed the court that three notices had been sent to Banerjee, all of which had expired. The investigating agency claims that his statement is crucial for gathering necessary information and advancing the investigation.
Meanwhile, a new summons has been issued to Abhishek Banerjee and several other Trinamool Congress leaders in a case filed in 2021 in connection with a political event in Khowai district, Tripura. The summons, issued by the Khowai court, has been sent to Banerjee's residence in Kolkata. He has been directed to appear in court on the specified date.
