Abhishek Banerjee, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Lok Sabha member, has written to the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) seeking additional time to appear for questioning in the Trinamool MLA signature mismatch case, citing health complications following a physical assault in Sonarpur on 30 May. The development comes a day after the CID summoned him to Bhabani Bhawan on Monday afternoon in connection with alleged forgeries in legislators' signatures.

Why Banerjee Skipped the Summons

According to a party insider, Banerjee is still recovering from injuries sustained when he was heckled and physically assaulted while travelling to meet the family of a party worker in South 24 Parganas district's Sonarpur. 'There is pain in his jaw and soreness all over his body. That is why Abhishek Banerjee is not going to Bhabani Bhawan in response to the CID summons,' the source said.

The insider added that several medical tests remain pending. 'Overall, Abhishek Banerjee wants to take some more time to appear before the CID,' the source said. Banerjee himself had earlier stated he would cooperate with the investigation while following appropriate legal counsel.

The CID Notice and How It Was Served

The CID issued the notice on 30 May, the same day as the Sonarpur incident. Investigators first visited Banerjee's residence on Harish Mukherjee Road to serve the notice. On learning that he was at his other residence in Kalighat, CID officers proceeded there and personally handed him the summons.

The agency has since constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, led by an officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), supported by a DSP and two inspectors.

What the Signature Mismatch Case Is About

The investigation centres on alleged discrepancies in the signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators on a resolution nominating key positions in the West Bengal Assembly. As General Secretary, Banerjee had sent a letter to the Assembly Secretariat nominating Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim — also the Mayor of Kolkata — as Chief Whip.

Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose insisted on a formal resolution bearing MLA signatures. When signature mismatches were detected on the submitted resolution, the matter was referred to the CID for investigation. Banerjee's role as the party functionary who initiated the nomination process has made him central to the inquiry.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

This comes amid heightened political tension in West Bengal, with the Sonarpur assault adding a volatile backdrop to what is already a sensitive intra-party and legislative dispute. Notably, the CID — a state agency — is investigating a matter that directly involves the ruling party's own internal functioning, raising questions about institutional independence that critics have flagged.

The CID's SIT is expected to proceed with its probe regardless of the delay. Banerjee's eventual appearance before the investigators — and the medical documentation he submits — will be closely watched by both the opposition and legal observers tracking the case.