Kolkata: The Bengal CID's special investigation team (SIT) is set to conduct a face-to-face interrogation of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and fellow party MLAs Kunal Ghosh (Beleghata) and Madan Mitra (Kamarhati) in the Signgate case at Bhabani Bhawan on Sunday. This marks the second time the CID will question Abhishek, following a 5-hour-30-minute session on Thursday that concluded at 11:30 pm. The TMC MP is also scheduled to face investigators again on Tuesday regarding a separate pre-poll hate speech case.
Reactions to Summons
Reacting to the summons, Ghosh stated, "I have always cooperated with the CID in this case and will continue to do so. I have been asked to appear at 3:30 pm. I will go and answer the questions." The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted Abhishek a three-week immunity from arrest in the Signgate case but specifically instructed him to cooperate with investigators. The CID indicated that further questioning was necessary because Abhishek had "avoided direct answers" during the previous session.
Details of the Investigation
CID sources revealed that Abhishek repeatedly responded with "I don't know" to several queries. Investigators sought clarification on how the signatures of at least five MLAs, who were reportedly absent from the party meeting, appeared on the resolution. A senior official stated that the probe will focus on establishing the timeline of when the signatures were made, the circumstances under which they were prepared and submitted, and whether any coercion or intimidation was involved.
Abhishek disputed the CID's claims, asserting that he had cooperated fully and will comply with the June 14 summons. "I have never skipped or fled any investigation. Previously, whenever the CBI or ED called me in Kolkata and Delhi, I complied and cooperated. I am doing the same now," he said.
Background of the Case
The case pertains to a letter submitted to the assembly secretariat on May 19, purportedly bearing the signatures of around 70 TMC MLAs and naming party senior Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the leader of the opposition. Subsequently, allegations emerged that several signatures were forged. The two whistleblowers—Uluberia MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha—were expelled from the TMC. Days later, the duo claimed the support of 58 MLAs to stake a claim for TMC's legislative party, with Ritabrata being chosen as the Leader of the Opposition. The complaint led the assembly secretary to file an FIR at Hare Street police station, following which an SIT, headed by a DIG-rank officer, was constituted by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to investigate the matter.
