CID enters TMC headquarters after hour-long standoff in MLA signature forgery probe

CID officers entered the Trinamool Congress headquarters at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street on Tuesday after an hour-long standoff with party representatives during an investigation into the alleged MLA signature forgery case. Investigators stated that the search was conducted based on information allegedly provided by Abhishek Banerjee, who reportedly informed the agency that legislators’ signatures had been collected at the party’s central office. Officials said they were carrying a search warrant and were looking for records relevant to the investigation.

The CID team arrived at the office at around 3:15 PM and secured the area with assistance from personnel deployed from Kalighat Police Station, Bhowanipore Police Station, and central security forces. A women’s police team was positioned at the entrance while investigators prepared to carry out the search. At the same time, another CID team reportedly visited Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street as part of the same investigation.

At the time of the operation, both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in Delhi. The office was being overseen by party treasurer and former Rajya Sabha MP Subhashis Chakraborty. According to available information, Subhashis Chakraborty informed investigators that he could not authorize a search in the absence of the party leadership and requested that officials return after two days when the concerned individuals were available.

CID officials responded that they were not seeking permission but informing the office about the execution of a lawful search. A heated exchange followed, during which investigators reportedly stated that obstructing an investigation could have consequences. Security personnel at the office also attempted to prevent officers from entering the premises. The entire sequence of events was videographed by the authorities.

After discussions outside the office and additional security arrangements, CID officers entered the premises approximately one hour later. Sources indicated that investigators were specifically searching for the office logbook and other documents connected to the alleged forgery case. The investigation stems from discrepancies allegedly found between signatures submitted in support of the opposition leader nomination process and signatures recorded on other official Assembly documents. CID has already questioned several MLAs and issued multiple notices to Abhishek Banerjee, directing him to appear before investigators in connection with the case.