Calcutta HC extends Abhishek Banerjee's arrest protection in signature mismatch case
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has extended Abhishek Banerjee's shield from arrest for another month in the CID's signature mismatch probe — a case that cuts to the heart of how the TMC manages its own legislative machinery. With two separate CID investigations now running in parallel, the legal pressure on the Diamond Harbour MP is mounting even as the courts keep coercive action at bay.
Key Takeaways
Justice Kaushik Chanda of the Calcutta High Court extended interim protection from arrest for Abhishek Banerjee on 17 July by one month.
The case involves alleged signature mismatches on a TMC legislative resolution concerning West Bengal Assembly Opposition bench appointments.
Expelled TMC legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha first flagged the signature discrepancies, prompting the Assembly Secretariat to refer the matter to the CID .
Abhishek Banerjee has been questioned twice by CID officials and has separately filed a petition to quash the FIR.
A second CID probe against him relates to alleged violence-inciting remarks targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a West Bengal election rally.
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 17 July extended interim protection from coercive police action — including arrest — for All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee in an ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into alleged signature mismatches on a legislative resolution concerning West Bengal Assembly Opposition bench appointments. The earlier protection had lapsed the same day before Justice Kaushik Chanda ordered a one-month extension.
Background: What the Case Is About
The CID inquiry centres on a resolution submitted to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose last month, in which Abhishek Banerjee named 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 required a resolution signed by Trinamool legislators to accompany the letter. When the resolution was submitted, expelled TMC legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha alleged mismatches in certain signatures. The Assembly Secretariat subsequently referred the matter to the CID for investigation.
Court Proceedings and Petition
Abhishek Banerjee had earlier approached the Calcutta High Court seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him by the CID in the signature mismatch case. The matter came up for hearing on Friday, and Justice Chanda extended the interim protection by one additional month at the conclusion of the hearing.
The TMC General Secretary has already been questioned twice by CID officials in connection with this matter, according to reports.
Two Parallel CID Probes Against Abhishek Banerjee
The signature mismatch case is one of two active CID investigations involving Abhishek Banerjee. The second relates to allegations that he made violence-inciting statements and threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a campaign rally held ahead of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
In connection with the hate speech case, Abhishek Banerjee submitted his voice samples at a district court in North 24 Parganas. He is the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
What Happens Next
With the interim protection now extended by one month, the CID probe is expected to continue without the immediate prospect of arrest. The petition seeking to quash the FIR remains pending before the Calcutta High Court, and the next hearing will be closely watched by both the ruling TMC and opposition groups in the state.
Point of View
The pressure on TMC's leadership structure is real, even if the legal shield holds for now. The unresolved question is whether the FIR quashing petition will succeed, or whether the CID will build enough of a record to survive judicial scrutiny.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court extend protection to Abhishek Banerjee?
The Calcutta High Court extended interim protection from arrest to Abhishek Banerjee for one month on 17 July because his earlier protection had expired and his petition to quash the CID's FIR in the signature mismatch case is still pending. Justice Kaushik Chanda granted the extension at the conclusion of Friday's hearing.
What is the signature mismatch case against Abhishek Banerjee?
The case involves alleged mismatches in signatures of Trinamool Congress legislators on a resolution submitted to West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose, naming key Opposition bench office-bearers. Expelled TMC legislators flagged the discrepancies, prompting the Assembly Secretariat to hand the probe to the CID.
How many CID cases is Abhishek Banerjee currently facing?
Abhishek Banerjee is currently facing two separate CID investigations. The first is the legislators' signature mismatch case; the second concerns allegations that he made violence-inciting statements and threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a West Bengal election campaign rally.
Who are the expelled TMC legislators who raised the signature mismatch allegation?
Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, both expelled Trinamool Congress legislators, pointed out the alleged signature mismatches on the resolution. Their complaint triggered the Assembly Secretariat's referral to the CID.
What happens next in the Calcutta High Court case?
The interim protection is now valid for one additional month. The petition filed by Abhishek Banerjee seeking to quash the FIR remains pending before the Calcutta High Court, with the next hearing expected to be a key moment in determining whether the CID probe can proceed unimpeded.
