CID raids Kalighat home of Abhishek Banerjee's aunt in remarks case
Synopsis
West Bengal's CID has widened its probe into Abhishek Banerjee's alleged election remarks by raiding the Kalighat home of his aunt — a relative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — just days after a midnight search for his executive assistant on the same street. The pattern signals an investigation that is steadily closing in on the TMC chief's inner circle.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CID raided 29/D Harish Chatterjee Street, Kalighat on 18 June , the residence of Reena Gayen , sister-in-law of Mamata Banerjee and aunt of Abhishek Banerjee .
The search lasted approximately one hour , from 2 pm to 3 pm .
The case relates to allegedly provocative remarks made by Abhishek Banerjee during the Assembly election campaign, including a comment about 'playing DJ' after counting on 4 May .
Aditi Gayen , daughter of the raided household, reportedly manages Abhishek Banerjee's social media and schedule.
Salbani police had earlier conducted a midnight raid on the same street seeking Abhishek Banerjee's executive assistant, Sumit Roy , who was not found.
Abhishek Banerjee has previously been questioned by CID for a total of three days across two separate cases.
West Bengal's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday, 18 June raided a residence on Harish Chatterjee Street in south Kolkata's Kalighat area, this time targeting the home of Mamata Banerjee's sister-in-law — who is also the aunt of Trinamool Congress (TMC) National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The search, which lasted approximately one hour between 2 pm and 3 pm, is linked to a case registered over allegedly provocative remarks made by Abhishek Banerjee during the Assembly election campaign.
What Triggered the Case
According to reports, the case stems from a comment Abhishek Banerjee made while campaigning ahead of the Assembly elections. He reportedly said he would 'play DJ' after vote counting on 4 May — remarks that investigators have characterised as provocative in nature. The CID is examining whether those statements violated applicable provisions of law.
Who Lives at the Raided Address
The residence visited by CID officers is 29/D Harish Chatterjee Street, home to Reena Gayen, also known as Nanti, one of Mamata Banerjee's sisters-in-law. Her daughter, Aditi Gayen, is reportedly closely associated with Abhishek Banerjee's social media team — managing his digital presence and overseeing his schedule. Aditi has been seen accompanying Abhishek Banerjee at multiple party events and was photographed with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi at the Yuva Bharati Sports Complex. Mamata Banerjee's own residence is located approximately 250 metres from the raided address.
Pattern of CID Activity in Kalighat
This is not the first time investigators have converged on Harish Chatterjee Street. The CID had previously visited Abhishek Banerjee's own residence on the same street in connection with a separate signature mismatch case related to the state Assembly, serving him a notice on that occasion. Abhishek Banerjee, who represents the Diamond Harbour constituency in Parliament, has appeared at the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan on multiple occasions — spending two days under questioning in the signature mismatch case and one day in the provocative remarks case.
Recent Raids Widen the Net
The Kalighat cluster has seen a sharp increase in investigative activity in recent days. Personnel from Salbani police station conducted a late-night raid on the same street searching for Sumit Roy, Abhishek Banerjee's executive assistant. Officers reportedly broke the lock to gain entry, but Roy was not found at the premises. Thursday's CID visit to a relative's home marks a further expansion of the investigation's scope within the same neighbourhood.
The CID has not issued a formal statement on the findings of Thursday's search, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Point of View
A relatively narrow legal question about campaign speech — is being used as a thread to pull at a wider web of associates, aides, and relatives. What is notable is the geography: every raid lands within 250 metres of Mamata Banerjee's own home, a detail that carries unmistakable political symbolism. Whether this represents legitimate investigative procedure or a calibrated pressure campaign on the TMC leadership is a question that will ultimately be tested in court — but the optics are already shaping the political narrative heading into the next phase of electoral contestation in Bengal.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the CID raid Harish Chatterjee Street in Kalighat on 18 June?
The CID raided 29/D Harish Chatterjee Street on 18 June in connection with a case filed over allegedly provocative remarks made by TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the Assembly election campaign. Officers visited the residence of his aunt, Reena Gayen, and the search lasted approximately one hour.
What were the allegedly provocative remarks made by Abhishek Banerjee?
During the Assembly election campaign, Abhishek Banerjee reportedly said he would 'play DJ' after the counting of votes on 4 May. Investigators have characterised these remarks as provocative in nature and have registered a case accordingly.
Who is Aditi Gayen and what is her connection to Abhishek Banerjee?
Aditi Gayen is the daughter of Reena Gayen, the woman at whose residence the CID conducted Thursday's search. According to reports, Aditi is closely associated with Abhishek Banerjee's social media team, managing his digital presence and overseeing his schedule.
Has Abhishek Banerjee been questioned by the CID before?
Yes. Abhishek Banerjee has appeared at the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan on multiple occasions. He was questioned for two days in connection with a signature mismatch case related to the state Assembly and for one day in the provocative remarks case.
What other recent raids have taken place in the Kalighat area?
Personnel from Salbani police station conducted a late-night raid on Harish Chatterjee Street in search of Sumit Roy, Abhishek Banerjee's executive assistant. Officers broke the lock to enter the premises, but Roy was not found there.
