Abhishek Banerjee summoned by CID over pre-poll violence case in West Bengal
Synopsis
In an extraordinary 72-hour stretch, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has faced back-to-back interrogations by the CID and ED across three separate cases — and a third CID session awaits him on Tuesday. The convergence of probes on a single opposition leader, right after state Assembly polls, has sharpened the political battle lines in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to appear before the West Bengal CID at Bhabani Bhavan, South Kolkata on 16 June in a pre-poll violence and threat case involving Home Minister Amit Shah .
An FIR was registered against him at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station ; the probe was transferred to the CID on 11 June .
On 14 June , he was questioned for ~8.5 hours by the CID in the signature mismatch case involving forged legislator signatures.
On 15 June , the Enforcement Directorate grilled him for over 11 hours at its Salt Lake office in the cash-for-school-jobs case .
Banerjee has called the consecutive questioning BJP 'vendetta' politics but says he will cooperate with all probes.
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee is scheduled to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police at its headquarters, Bhabani Bhavan, in South Kolkata, on Tuesday, 16 June, in connection with a case in which he has been accused of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the recently concluded state Assembly elections.
Background of the Case
An FIR was registered against Banerjee — the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — last month at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station under the Bidhannagar City Police. The probe was initially handled by cybercrime officers before being transferred to the CID on 11 June. CID officials served Banerjee a notice for interrogation on 12 June, directing him to present himself at Bhabani Bhavan by noon on Tuesday.
Back-to-Back Interrogations
Tuesday's appearance follows two consecutive days of marathon questioning by separate investigative agencies. On 14 June (Sunday), Banerjee was grilled for approximately eight and a half hours by CID officials in the signature mismatch case — a matter centring on alleged forgery of signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators on a state Assembly resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition. Discrepancies found in the submitted documents triggered the CID inquiry.
The following day, on 15 June, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Banerjee for over 11 hours at its Salt Lake office on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school-jobs case. This marks at least three separate probes now actively targeting the senior Trinamool leader within a short span.
Banerjee's Response
Banerjee has characterised the consecutive interrogations as part of what he described as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'vendetta' politics, alleging a coordinated effort to create 'an opposition-less political system' in West Bengal. He stated he would cooperate with all investigations but asserted he 'will not bow down to any pressure tactics.'
What Happens Next
With three separate agencies — the CID (in two cases) and the ED — now pursuing Banerjee simultaneously, the political and legal stakes in West Bengal are escalating sharply. The outcome of Tuesday's CID questioning in the pre-poll violence case is expected to determine whether formal charges are pressed or the investigation widens further.
Point of View
The optics of simultaneous CID and ED proceedings timed closely to a state election result will inevitably fuel the 'political vendetta' narrative that Banerjee is already deploying. West Bengal has a long history of post-poll legal offensives by whichever party holds power at the Centre, and this episode fits that pattern. The more pointed question is whether any of these three probes will result in a chargesheet that withstands judicial scrutiny — because in past cycles, high-profile summons have often not translated into convictions.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Abhishek Banerjee been summoned by the CID on 16 June?
The CID summoned Abhishek Banerjee in connection with a case in which he is accused of inciting violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the West Bengal Assembly elections. An FIR was filed at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station and the probe was transferred to the CID on 11 June.
What is the signature mismatch case involving Abhishek Banerjee?
The signature mismatch case relates to alleged forgery of signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators on a state Assembly resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition. Discrepancies in the submitted documents prompted a CID investigation, and Banerjee was questioned for about 8.5 hours in this matter on 14 June.
What is the cash-for-school-jobs case?
The cash-for-school-jobs case is a multi-crore scam in which the Enforcement Directorate alleges irregularities in appointments to state-run schools in West Bengal. Banerjee was questioned by ED officials for over 11 hours at their Salt Lake office on 15 June in connection with this case.
What has Abhishek Banerjee said about the multiple interrogations?
Banerjee has described the back-to-back interrogations as part of the BJP's 'vendetta' politics aimed at creating an opposition-less political system in West Bengal. He has said he will cooperate with all investigations but 'will not bow down to any pressure tactics.'
Who is Abhishek Banerjee?
Abhishek Banerjee is the general secretary of the Trinamool Congress and a Lok Sabha member. He is also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, making him one of the most prominent figures in the party's leadership structure.
