Kolkata, June 9: A team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Tuesday visited the Kolkata residence of Trinamool Congress chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, Banerjee was not present at her residence as she is currently in New Delhi after attending a meeting of the INDIA bloc.
The development comes amid an ongoing CID investigation into the alleged forgery of signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators. Last week, a CID team had also visited the residence of TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the same case.
To probe the allegations, the state CID has formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT). The agency has sought the original copy of the party’s resolution submitted to the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly regarding the appointment of party office-bearers. According to officials, Abhishek Banerjee has responded through his legal counsel by sending a formal communication to the investigating agency.
Police sources said the SIT is being led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank officer to ensure a comprehensive investigation. As part of the probe, CID officials have recorded statements from 13 TMC legislators. Three MLAs reportedly claimed that the signatures appearing in the Meeting Resolution Book dated May 6 were not theirs. One legislator from Canning Purba allegedly informed investigators that he had not attended the meeting held in Kolkata on that date.
The controversy stems from a resolution regarding the appointment of party office-bearers. On May 9, Abhishek Banerjee informed the Assembly Speaker that the appointments were approved during a meeting of the All India Trinamool Congress legislative party. Subsequently, on May 18, the Assembly’s Principal Secretary sought the minutes of the meeting, the resolution, and signatures of the legislators who were present during the decision-making process.
In response, Abhishek Banerjee submitted a copy of the resolution book and an attendance sheet on May 20, claiming that 70 MLAs had attended the May 6 meeting. However, on May 27, two AITC legislators lodged a complaint before the Speaker, alleging that no such resolution had been adopted on May 6 and that they had signed the resolution book only on May 19.
The complainants further alleged that the May 6 resolution had been “fabricated and manufactured,” pointing out that several signatures appeared in block letters. Following the complaint, the Trinamool Congress suspended the two MLAs — Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha — on charges of anti-party activities.
Based on a complaint filed by the Principal Secretary of the Assembly, the police registered a case at Hare Street Police Station on May 27 under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The CID formally took over the investigation on May 28 and has since intensified its inquiry into the allegations.
