The Calcutta High Court has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on a petition filed by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is seeking protection from coercive actions by the state CID in connection with an ongoing investigation into forged signatures.
Banerjee’s legal counsel, Kalyan Banerjee, pressed for an immediate hearing before Justice Kausik Chanda on Wednesday. The lawyer informed the court that the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had conducted a raid on the Diamond Harbour MP’s office on Tuesday, during the lawmaker’s absence. In addition to protective measures, Abhishek Banerjee’s petition seeks to quash the first information report (FIR) registered against him.
Allegations Of Signature Forgery
The CID inquiry stems from allegations that the signatures of two state legislators were forged on an official Trinamool Congress (TMC) resolution. The party resolution proposed appointing Ballygunge MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the leader of the opposition.
The dispute began when the two lawmakers, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, submitted a formal complaint to the Assembly Secretariat claiming their names had been forged on the document. Following this complaint, the Assembly Secretariat registered an FIR with the Kolkata Police.
Probe Transfer And Political Fallout
The investigation was later reassigned to the CID on the orders of the state’s home secretary.
Subsequent to their complaint, both Ritabrata Banerjee and Saha were expelled from the TMC. The ruling party cited anti-party activities as the reason for their removal. Justice Chanda confirmed on Wednesday that the court would address Abhishek Banerjee’s petition the following day.
