Abhishek Banerjee moves Calcutta HC against CID summons in MLA signature row
Synopsis
Abhishek Banerjee has gone to the Calcutta High Court to block a CID summons in a case that began as an intra-party paperwork dispute over opposition bench appointments. The June 8 CID date overlaps with an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi — turning a signature row into a high-stakes political flashpoint inside Bengal's ruling party.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Banerjee moved the Calcutta High Court on 3 June challenging a CID summons in the MLA signature mismatch case.
Justice Apurba Sinha Roy admitted the plea; the matter will be heard on Friday .
The CID first summoned him on June 1 , then re-issued notice for June 8 — the day of an INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi .
The case stems from alleged signature mismatches on a TMC resolution nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition and three other office-bearers.
TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha flagged the alleged mismatches to the Speaker's office.
Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday, 3 June, moved a single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court, challenging the summons issued to him by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police in the MLA signature mismatch case. The bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Roy has admitted his plea seeking protection from coercive action, including arrest, with the matter slated for hearing on Friday.
What the case is about
The dispute centres on alleged mismatches in the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators on a resolution nominating party MLAs to four key opposition-reserved positions in the West Bengal Assembly. The signatures appeared on a resolution submitted to the Speaker's office endorsing the party's nominees for Leader of Opposition, two deputy leaders, and Chief Whip.
How the summons unfolded
The CID had initially called Abhishek Banerjee to its office on June 1. He did not appear, seeking a 15-day extension citing his physical condition after he was allegedly assaulted by a section of the public at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas on the afternoon of May 30. By the evening of June 1, the CID issued a fresh notice asking him to appear on June 8.
A scheduling clash with the INDIA bloc meet
The June 8 date is significant. Abhishek Banerjee and his aunt, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, are scheduled to be in New Delhi the same day for a meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc — a fact that has sharpened the political edge of the timing.
The Speaker, the resolution, and the trigger
A few days earlier, Abhishek Banerjee had written to the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, Rathindra Bose, naming Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, Nayna Bandopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim as Chief Whip of the Trinamool legislative party. The Speaker reportedly insisted that the letter be accompanied by a formal resolution carrying signatures of TMC legislators, which was subsequently submitted.
The matter escalated after two Trinamool legislators, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, flagged what they described as signature mismatches on the resolution to the Speaker's office. The Assembly secretariat then handed over the probe to the CID, which moved swiftly to summon the TMC general secretary.
What happens next
Friday's hearing before Justice Sinha Roy will determine whether Abhishek Banerjee secures interim relief from coercive action ahead of the June 8 deadline. The outcome could shape both the trajectory of the CID probe and the political theatre around the opposition bench appointments in the Assembly.
Point of View
In reality, an internal Trinamool tremor that has spilled into state machinery. That two sitting TMC MLAs flagged signature mismatches against their own party's resolution is the story mainstream coverage has under-played — it points to fissures inside the legislative party, not just a procedural lapse. The CID's choice of June 8 — coinciding with an INDIA bloc meeting — also invites legitimate questions about timing. Friday's hearing is less about one summons and more about whether Bengal's ruling party can contain a dispute it created itself.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Abhishek Banerjee moved the Calcutta High Court?
He has challenged a CID summons asking him to appear for interrogation in the MLA signature mismatch case and is seeking protection from coercive action, including arrest. The single-judge vacation bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Roy has admitted his petition and will hear it on Friday.
What is the MLA signature mismatch case about?
The case relates to alleged mismatches in the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators on a resolution submitted to the West Bengal Assembly Speaker. The resolution nominated TMC MLAs to four opposition-reserved positions, including Leader of Opposition and Chief Whip.
When was Abhishek Banerjee summoned by the CID?
He was first summoned for June 1, but sought a 15-day extension citing his physical condition after an alleged assault at Sonarpur on May 30. The CID then issued a fresh notice asking him to appear on June 8.
Why is the June 8 CID date politically significant?
On June 8, Abhishek Banerjee and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to be in New Delhi for an INDIA bloc opposition meeting. The clash between the CID summons and the political engagement has sharpened scrutiny of the probe's timing.
Who flagged the signature mismatches?
Trinamool Congress MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha brought the alleged mismatches to the attention of the Speaker's office. The Assembly secretariat subsequently handed over the investigation to the CID.
