Abhishek Banerjee faces CID grilling again in MLA signature mismatch case
Synopsis
Abhishek Banerjee walked into CID headquarters in Kolkata ahead of schedule on Sunday — but that may be the easiest part of his week. With ED questioning over the multi-crore school-job scam on Monday and another CID session on Tuesday over alleged threats to Home Minister Amit Shah, the Trinamool General Secretary faces his most legally fraught stretch yet, and without High Court cover in two of the three cases.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the CID at Bhabani Bhawan, Kolkata on 14 June in the MLA signature mismatch case .
He arrived at 11:43 am , ahead of the noon deadline, and was previously questioned for five and a half hours on 11 June .
The Calcutta High Court has barred the CID from taking coercive action against him for two weeks in this specific case.
On 15 June , he faces Enforcement Directorate questioning at Salt Lake, Kolkata in the multi-crore cash-for-school-job scam; the ED had served notice on 3 June .
On 16 June , he is due before the CID again over alleged incitement of violence and threats to Home Minister Amit Shah before the state Assembly polls.
He does not have High Court protection against coercive action in the ED or incitement cases.
Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Bhabani Bhawan in Kolkata on Sunday, 14 June for a second round of questioning in the MLA signature mismatch case. The Diamond Harbour MP arrived at 11:43 am — ahead of the noon deadline set by the CID — signing the attendance register at the reception before proceeding inside.
Court Order and Security Arrangements
Banerjee's appearance follows a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which ordered him to cooperate with the CID's investigation while simultaneously barring the agency from taking any coercive action against him for a period of two weeks. Security at Bhabani Bhawan was visibly reinforced on the holiday, with additional police personnel and Central forces deployed on the premises. CID officials reported to duty despite the Sunday holiday.
Earlier Questioning and What Has Happened So Far
This is Banerjee's second CID appearance in the signature forgery matter. He was first questioned on Thursday, 11 June, for approximately five and a half hours. After leaving the CID office that evening, he proceeded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat. The CID subsequently summoned him for the fresh round of questioning on Sunday.
A Week of Multiple Interrogations
Sunday's CID appearance is only the opening of a demanding stretch for the Trinamool Congress leader. On Monday, 15 June, he is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Salt Lake office in Kolkata in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-school-job scam in West Bengal. The ED had served him a notice in the matter on 3 June.
On Tuesday, 16 June, Banerjee is again due at CID headquarters for questioning in a separate case in which he has been accused of inciting violence and allegedly threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the recently concluded state Assembly elections. CID officials served him a notice in that matter on the evening of 12 June.
Uncertainty Over Monday and Tuesday Appearances
It remains unclear whether Banerjee will comply with the summons for both the ED and the second CID session. Notably, the High Court's protection against coercive action applies only to the MLA signature mismatch case — he does not currently have judicial cover in the school-job scam or the incitement matter. This leaves him potentially exposed to stronger enforcement action if he does not appear.
The back-to-back summons represent one of the most concentrated periods of legal scrutiny faced by any senior Trinamool Congress leader in recent memory, and will be closely watched for its political fallout in West Bengal.
Point of View
Three cases, three days — the legal net around Abhishek Banerjee is tightening in a way that is difficult to dismiss as routine. The Calcutta High Court's two-week shield covers only the signature mismatch matter, leaving him exposed in the school-job scam and the incitement case. What is striking is the sequencing: CID, then ED, then CID again, each on consecutive days. Whether by design or coincidence, it maximises pressure at a moment when Trinamool is still reading the verdict of the Assembly polls. The real political question is not whether Banerjee appears — it is whether the party can insulate its organisational machinery from the fallout if any of these cases escalates to arrest.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MLA signature mismatch case involving Abhishek Banerjee?
The MLA signature mismatch case involves allegations of forged or mismatched signatures of MLAs in West Bengal. The CID is investigating the matter on court orders, and Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned as part of that probe.
Why did Abhishek Banerjee appear before the CID on 14 June?
The CID summoned Banerjee for a second round of questioning in the MLA signature mismatch case, following his first appearance on 11 June during which he was questioned for five and a half hours. The Calcutta High Court had directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
Does Abhishek Banerjee have legal protection from arrest?
The Calcutta High Court has barred the CID from taking coercive action against Banerjee for two weeks, but this protection applies only to the MLA signature mismatch case. He currently has no such cover in the ED school-job scam case or the incitement case.
What is the cash-for-school-job case and how is Banerjee linked?
The cash-for-school-job case is a multi-crore scam in West Bengal involving alleged illegal appointments in state schools in exchange for money. The Enforcement Directorate has served Banerjee a notice dated 3 June and is set to question him at its Salt Lake office on 15 June.
What is the incitement case in which Banerjee has been summoned on 16 June?
In this case, Banerjee has been accused of inciting violence and allegedly threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections. The CID served him a notice on the evening of 12 June, and he is due for questioning on 16 June.
