Calcutta HC orders Abhishek Banerjee to appear at CID by 6 pm in signature mismatch case
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has run out of patience: after Abhishek Banerjee dodged CID summons three times, a vacation bench has ordered him to appear at Bhabani Bhavan by 6 pm on 11 June — and his own senior advocate walked out of the case, citing 'arrogant behaviour'. With Banerjee still in Delhi, the next few hours carry serious political and legal stakes.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 11 June ordered Abhishek Banerjee to appear at CID headquarters, Bhabani Bhavan , by 6 pm the same day.
The bench noted Banerjee had already evaded CID summons on three prior occasions .
He was granted conditional interim protection from arrest for 21 days ; the matter will be reheard thereafter.
Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee refused to represent him in court, citing the TMC leader's 'arrogant behaviour'.
At the time of the order, Abhishek Banerjee was in New Delhi , raising questions about whether he would meet the deadline.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 11 June directed Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee to present himself at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters by 6 pm and cooperate with investigators in a signature mismatch case. The order came from a single-judge vacation bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda, which also granted him conditional interim protection from arrest for 21 days.
What the Court Directed
The bench, hearing Abhishek Banerjee's petition challenging CID summons and seeking protection from coercive police action, ruled that he must appear at Bhabani Bhavan, the CID's headquarters in South Kolkata, for interrogation. The court also noted that CID officials would be permitted to conduct raid and search operations if required for the investigation.
The bench made clear that Banerjee had already evaded summons on three prior occasions and that any further non-compliance would not be tolerated. The conditional protection from arrest remains in force for 21 days, after which the matter is scheduled to be heard again.
A Notable Absence in Court
In an unusual development, senior advocate and four-time TMC Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee declined to represent Abhishek Banerjee in court. He cited the latter's 'continued arrogant behaviour' towards him as the reason for stepping back. Abhishek Banerjee was instead represented by advocate Ayan Bhattacharya.
Where Abhishek Banerjee Is
At the time of the court order, Abhishek Banerjee — also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — was in New Delhi. Mamata Banerjee had returned to Kolkata from the national capital on Wednesday, but her nephew remained in Delhi. Whether he would travel back to Kolkata and comply with the court's deadline remained to be seen.
Background and Significance
The case centres on an alleged signature mismatch, for which the CID had issued summons to Abhishek Banerjee on multiple occasions. His repeated non-appearance before investigators had drawn the court's attention and ultimately led to Thursday's firm directive. This comes amid a broader pattern of legal scrutiny facing senior TMC leadership in West Bengal. The 21-day window and the next hearing date will be closely watched by both political observers and legal circles.
Point of View
But the 21-day window is also a ticking clock. More telling is the public break with his own legal representative: when a senior TMC parliamentarian refuses to argue your case citing 'arrogance', the optics inside the party are as significant as the legal exposure outside it.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Calcutta High Court ordered Abhishek Banerjee to appear before the CID?
The court directed Abhishek Banerjee to appear at CID headquarters by 6 pm on 11 June because he had already evaded CID summons three times in a signature mismatch case. Justice Kaushik Chanda's vacation bench warned that further non-compliance would not be tolerated.
What is the signature mismatch case involving Abhishek Banerjee?
The case relates to an alleged signature mismatch for which the CID had issued multiple summons to Abhishek Banerjee. Specific details of the underlying dispute have not been fully disclosed in court proceedings reported so far.
Has Abhishek Banerjee been arrested?
No. The court granted him conditional interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest, for 21 days. The matter is scheduled to be heard again after that period.
Why did Kalyan Banerjee refuse to represent Abhishek Banerjee in court?
Senior advocate and TMC Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee said he stepped back due to Abhishek Banerjee's 'continued arrogant behaviour' towards him. Abhishek Banerjee was subsequently represented by advocate Ayan Bhattacharya.
Where was Abhishek Banerjee when the court order was issued?
Abhishek Banerjee was in New Delhi at the time of the order. His aunt and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had returned to Kolkata on Wednesday, but he remained in the capital, leaving his compliance with the court deadline uncertain.
