Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has turned down a request from Trinamool Congress general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee to fast-track his legal challenge against a state CID interrogation summons. The high-profile investigation centres on allegations that the signatures of multiple party legislators were forged on an official parliamentary resolution.
Banerjee, who is the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, moved the High Court on 3 June. His petition challenged the summons issued by the state's Criminal Investigation Department and sought legal protection against coercive police actions, including potential arrest. Alongside the main petition, his legal counsel requested an expedited, fast-track hearing. The matter was heard on Friday morning by Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay, who dismissed the fast-track application, meaning the case will proceed through standard scheduling.
The investigation stems from a formal letter sent by Banerjee to the newly appointed West Bengal Assembly Speaker, Rathindra Bose. The communication nominated Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as Deputy Leaders of the Opposition, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip of the Trinamool Congress legislative party. Speaker Bose requested that the official letter be accompanied by a formal resolution signed by the party's MLAs to endorse the four appointments.
Following the submission of the signed resolution to the Speaker's office, two Trinamool Congress legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, notified the Assembly secretariat of distinct discrepancies and mismatches in the signatures of several party colleagues. In response to these allegations, the Assembly secretariat officially transferred the probe to the CID, leading to the subsequent summons issued to Banerjee.
The timing of the investigation has created a logistical conflict for the lawmaker. Banerjee was originally scheduled for his initial CID interrogation on 1 June. However, he failed to appear, requesting a 15-day extension due to his physical condition after reportedly being assaulted by members of the public at Sonarpur on 30 May. In response, CID detectives served a second notice that evening commanding him to appear for questioning on 8 June instead. This updated interrogation date directly clashes with a high-profile political engagement, as both Abhishek Banerjee and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to be in New Delhi on 8 June to attend a strategy meeting with the opposition INDIA bloc.
(Inputs from IANS)