Abhishek Banerjee moves Calcutta HC to quash CID FIR in signatures mismatch case
Synopsis
Abhishek Banerjee's move to quash the CID FIR in Calcutta High Court turns a procedural signatures dispute into a direct legal confrontation between the TMC's top leadership and West Bengal's investigative agency — with expelled party legislators at the centre of the complaint.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee , TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP, has petitioned the Calcutta High Court to quash a CID FIR against him.
The case relates to alleged signature mismatches on a resolution concerning West Bengal Assembly opposition bench appointments.
The Calcutta High Court issued a notice to the West Bengal government on Thursday, 16 July ; the matter will be heard next week.
Expelled TMC legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha had flagged the signature discrepancies that triggered the CID probe.
Abhishek Banerjee has already been questioned twice by CID officials before filing the petition.
Senior TMC legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay had separately challenged a CID notice in the same case before the High Court.
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the legislators' signatures mismatch case. The petition was filed on 16 July, with the High Court subsequently issuing a notice to the West Bengal government, a named party in the proceedings.
What the Case Is About
The CID inquiry stems from alleged mismatches in the signatures of several Trinamool legislators on a resolution related to appointments to opposition bench slots in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The controversy began after Abhishek Banerjee wrote to Speaker Rathindra Bose nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip of the Trinamool legislative party.
The Speaker directed that a resolution endorsed by Trinamool legislators accompany Banerjee's letter. When the resolution was subsequently submitted, expelled Trinamool legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha flagged discrepancies in certain signatures. The assembly secretariat then referred the matter to the CID for investigation.
High Court Notice and Next Steps
Acting on Abhishek Banerjee's petition, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the West Bengal government. The state counsel is expected to present arguments when the matter comes up for hearing next week. This marks the second legal challenge before the High Court in this case — senior Trinamool legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay had earlier challenged a CID notice in the same matter before the court.
Banerjee's Prior Questioning by CID
Notably, Abhishek Banerjee has already been questioned twice by CID officials in connection with the case before approaching the High Court. His petition seeking to quash the FIR signals an escalation of the legal contest between the ruling party's leadership and the investigative agency over the signatures dispute.
Political Context
The case has drawn attention within West Bengal's political circles, given that it involves the internal functioning of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s legislative wing and the process of formalising opposition bench appointments. The involvement of expelled TMC legislators as complainants adds a layer of intra-party tension to what is ostensibly a procedural dispute. The High Court's next hearing will be closely watched for any interim relief granted to Banerjee.
Point of View
But it also exposes an uncomfortable reality for the TMC: the signatures dispute is not just a procedural hiccup — it is a window into the party's internal power dynamics and the contested authority over legislative appointments. That expelled legislators were the ones to flag the discrepancies suggests the fallout from intra-party purges is now feeding into criminal proceedings. The High Court's response on interim relief next week will signal whether the judiciary is prepared to stay the CID's hand while the petition is examined — a question with implications well beyond this single case.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Abhishek Banerjee approached the Calcutta High Court?
Abhishek Banerjee has petitioned the Calcutta High Court seeking to quash an FIR registered against him by the CID in connection with alleged mismatches in signatures of Trinamool legislators on a resolution related to West Bengal Assembly opposition bench appointments.
What is the legislators' signatures mismatch case?
The case involves alleged discrepancies in the signatures of several Trinamool Congress legislators on a resolution submitted to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, which endorsed names for opposition bench positions. The assembly secretariat referred the matter to the CID after expelled TMC legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha flagged the mismatches.
What did the Calcutta High Court do after receiving Banerjee's petition?
The Calcutta High Court issued a notice to the West Bengal government on Thursday following Abhishek Banerjee's petition. The matter is scheduled to be heard next week, when the state counsel will present arguments.
Has Abhishek Banerjee been questioned by the CID before?
Yes, Abhishek Banerjee has already been questioned twice by CID officials in connection with the signatures mismatch case before filing the petition in the Calcutta High Court.
Who else has challenged the CID action in this case?
Senior Trinamool Congress legislator Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, who was named as Leader of the Opposition in Banerjee's letter to the Speaker, had earlier challenged a CID notice in the same matter before the Calcutta High Court.
