Abhishek Banerjee Appears Before CID Again in MLA Signature Mismatch Case Amid TMC Rebel Row

Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday for a second round of questioning in the MLA signature mismatch case, even as a fresh political controversy erupted over a rebel TMC faction seeking separate recognition in Parliament.

Banerjee reached the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan before the scheduled time of noon and entered the premises after completing the necessary formalities at the reception desk.

Security was tightened around the CID office, with additional state police and Central forces deployed in and around the complex. Despite it being a Sunday, senior CID officials were present at the office for the questioning.

The Trinamool MP had earlier appeared before investigators on June 11, when he was questioned for nearly five-and-a-half hours in connection with allegations related to mismatched signatures of MLAs. Following that interrogation, he was asked to appear again on Sunday.

The questioning comes after the Calcutta High Court directed Banerjee to cooperate with the investigation being conducted by the state police's intelligence wing. The court also granted him interim protection from coercive action in the case for two weeks.

The latest developments come at a politically sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress.

Earlier this week, Banerjee wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla objecting to reports that a rebel group of Trinamool MPs was seeking separate recognition in Parliament. In his letter, Banerjee reportedly argued that the Trinamool Congress remains a single political party and that no splinter faction can claim independent recognition within the Lok Sabha.

The move was seen as an attempt by the party leadership to contain internal dissent and prevent any formal parliamentary recognition of a breakaway group.

Meanwhile, Banerjee faces a packed schedule of investigations over the next two days.

On Monday, he has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school-jobs recruitment scam in West Bengal. The central agency had served him a notice earlier this month directing him to appear at its Salt Lake office.

On Tuesday, he has again been asked to appear before the CID in a separate case in which he has been accused of allegedly inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the recently concluded Assembly elections.

The notice in that matter was served on June 12.

It remains unclear whether Banerjee will appear before investigators in both cases, particularly as he currently does not enjoy any court protection from coercive action in either the school recruitment scam probe or the alleged threat case.

With multiple investigations converging and political tensions rising within the Trinamool Congress, the coming week is likely to be crucial for Banerjee both legally and politically.