Bengal CID forms SIT to probe TMC MLA signature forgery case
Synopsis
West Bengal's CID has formed a five-member SIT — led by a DIG — to investigate forged signatures of TMC MLAs on an Assembly resolution nominating opposition posts. The probe has now reached the party's second-most powerful figure: Abhishek Banerjee has been summoned for questioning, days after he was assaulted in Sonarpur.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal CID has constituted a five-member SIT led by a DIG to probe alleged signature forgery involving TMC MLAs .
The disputed signatures are on a resolution nominating the Leader of Opposition , two deputy leaders, and the Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly .
Abhishek Banerjee , TMC General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP, was summoned to Bhabani Bhawan on Monday for questioning.
The CID delivered the notice personally to Banerjee at his Kalighat residence on 30 May .
The case was triggered after Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose found mismatches in MLA signatures and referred the matter to the CID.
Banerjee said he would cooperate with the probe while seeking legal counsel; his actual appearance remained uncertain.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of forged signatures of Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators, with the agency also issuing a summons to party General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee for questioning at its headquarters in Kolkata.
The SIT and Its Composition
According to senior police officials, the CID has assembled a five-member SIT to lead the investigation. An officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) is heading the team, supported by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and two inspectors. The team is expected to examine the alleged signature discrepancies on a resolution submitted to the West Bengal Assembly Secretariat.
What the Signature Dispute Is About
The controversy centres on a resolution nominating key opposition positions in the West Bengal Assembly — specifically the Leader of Opposition, two deputy leaders, and the party's Chief Whip. Before the resolution was submitted, Abhishek Banerjee, in his capacity as TMC General Secretary, had written 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 required the submission of a resolution carrying signatures of TMC MLAs. When mismatches were detected in some of those signatures, the matter was formally referred to the CID.
Summons to Abhishek Banerjee
The CID issued a notice to Abhishek Banerjee on 30 May, with investigators first visiting his residence on Harish Mukherjee Road. Upon learning he was at his other residence in Kalighat, officers proceeded there and delivered the notice in person. He was subsequently summoned to Bhabani Bhawan — the CID headquarters — on Monday afternoon.
Banerjee stated he would cooperate with the investigation while seeking appropriate legal counsel. However, speculation remained over whether he would appear in person, given his recent health situation.
Background: The Sonarpur Incident
This development comes days after Abhishek Banerjee was reportedly heckled and physically assaulted in Sonarpur, located in South 24 Parganas district, on the afternoon of 30 May. Following the incident, two private hospitals declined admission, officially stating that 'admission not required.' Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — his aunt — subsequently brought him to her residence on Kalighat Road in South Kolkata, announcing that a 'hospital-like facility' had been arranged there for his recovery.
What Happens Next
With the SIT now operational, investigators are expected to record statements from relevant TMC legislators and examine the disputed documents. The proximity of Bhabani Bhawan to Banerjee's Kalighat residence adds a logistical dimension to his potential appearance. How the party responds to the ongoing probe — and whether Banerjee ultimately joins the investigation — will shape the next phase of this politically sensitive case.
Point of View
Not clerical. Summoning Abhishek Banerjee, the de facto number two of the Trinamool Congress, raises the political stakes considerably: this is no longer a bureaucratic dispute over assembly paperwork. The timing is pointed — the notice was served while Banerjee was recovering from a physical assault, a sequence that opposition critics and TMC alike will read through a political lens. What mainstream coverage underplays is the constitutional underpinning: forged signatures on a legislative resolution go to the integrity of the assembly process itself, not just intra-party dynamics.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bengal CID SIT investigating in the TMC signature case?
The CID's SIT is probing allegations that signatures of Trinamool Congress MLAs on a West Bengal Assembly resolution were forged or mismatched. The resolution pertained to nominating the Leader of Opposition, two deputy leaders, and the party's Chief Whip in the assembly.
Who has been summoned by the Bengal CID in this case?
Abhishek Banerjee, TMC General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP, was summoned to the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan in Kolkata for questioning. The notice was delivered to him personally at his Kalighat residence on 30 May.
How was the signature mismatch discovered?
Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose required a resolution with MLA signatures before recognising the nominated opposition posts. When discrepancies were found in some signatures, he referred the matter to the CID for investigation.
Who was nominated in the disputed resolution?
Abhishek Banerjee's letter to the Assembly Secretariat nominated Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition, Nayna Bandyopadhyay and Asima Patra as deputy leaders, and Firhad Hakim — also Mayor of Kolkata — as Chief Whip.
What is Abhishek Banerjee's response to the CID summons?
Banerjee stated he would cooperate with the investigation while seeking appropriate legal counsel. Whether he appeared in person at Bhabani Bhawan remained uncertain at the time of reporting, given his ongoing recovery following the Sonarpur incident.
