CID issues third summons to Abhishek Banerjee in signature mismatch probe

West Bengal CID has issued a third notice to Abhishek Banerjee, directing him to appear for questioning by Tuesday evening in a probe into alleged signature mismatches involving TMC legislators. The Trinamool Congress leader has sought more time and challenged the summons in court

Kolkata: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Monday issued a fresh notice to Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party’s Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, asking him to be present at the CID headquarters in south Kolkata by 5 p.m. on Tuesday for questioning in relation to an ongoing CID probe into alleged mismatches in the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators in a crucial resolution pertaining to appointments to key posts in the West Bengal Assembly reserved for the Opposition bench.

This is the third notice for interrogation that has been served on Abhishek Banerjee, also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in the matter.

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In the first notice served on May 30, Abhishek Banerjee was asked to appear for interrogation at the CID headquarters on June 1. However, on June 1, he sent a communique to the CID seeking 15 days’ time to appear, citing medical issues after being assaulted at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district on the afternoon of May 30. The CID then served a second notice asking him to appear for interrogation by 12 noon on Monday.

However, on Monday morning, Abhishek Banerjee, who is currently in New Delhi along with Mamata Banerjee to attend the crucial meeting of the Opposition India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, sent another communique to the CID seeking more time to appear for interrogation.

However, on Monday afternoon, a team of CID officials appeared at his residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata and served the third notice there.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Abhishek Banerjee returns to Kolkata from New Delhi and appears for interrogation within the stipulated deadline of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Incidentally, a crucial hearing is scheduled for June 10 before a single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Abhishek Banerjee’s petition challenging the CID summons and seeking protection from coercive action, including arrest, in the matter.

Last week, while approaching the Calcutta High Court with his petition challenging the CID summons and seeking protection, he also moved a plea for an expedited hearing.

However, the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das rejected the plea for an expedited hearing and fixed June 10 as the next date of hearing.