CID serves third notice to Abhishek Banerjee, deadline set for 5 pm Tuesday
Synopsis
West Bengal CID has now served Abhishek Banerjee a third notice in under ten days — each time he has sought more time or been out of state. With a Calcutta High Court hearing on his protection petition set for 10 June and the CID deadline at 5 pm Tuesday, the next 48 hours could define whether India's most prominent TMC face after Mamata Banerjee faces coercive action.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CID issued a third notice to Abhishek Banerjee on 8 June , asking him to appear by 5 pm on Tuesday, 9 June .
The probe concerns alleged signature mismatches of TMC legislators on a resolution for West Bengal Assembly Opposition bench appointments.
Banerjee skipped the first summons citing a medical issue after an assault at Sonarpur on 30 May , and sought more time again on Monday from New Delhi .
The third notice was served at his Kalighat Road residence in south Kolkata by a CID team on Monday afternoon.
The Calcutta High Court has fixed 10 June as the next hearing date on his petition challenging the summons and seeking protection from arrest.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Monday, 8 June issued a third notice to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee, directing him to appear at the CID headquarters in south Kolkata by 5 pm on Tuesday for questioning. The notice relates to an ongoing CID probe into alleged signature mismatches of certain TMC legislators on a resolution concerning appointments to key Opposition bench posts in the West Bengal Assembly.
Background to the Notices
This is the third summons served on Abhishek Banerjee — also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — in connection with the matter. The first notice, issued on 30 May, required him to appear on 1 June. However, Banerjee sought a 15-day extension that day, citing medical issues following an assault at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district on the afternoon of 30 May.
A second notice followed, asking him to appear by 12 noon on Monday. On Monday morning, Banerjee — who was in New Delhi alongside Mamata Banerjee to attend a key meeting of the India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc — again wrote to the CID seeking additional time.
How the Third Notice Was Served
Despite the request for more time, a CID team visited Banerjee's residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata on Monday afternoon and served the third notice in person. The move signals an escalation in the investigative agency's approach after two consecutive deferrals.
Notably, this is the third time within roughly ten days that the CID has had to pursue Banerjee for questioning — a pattern that is drawing scrutiny from both legal observers and political commentators.
Calcutta High Court Petition
Separately, Abhishek Banerjee has approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the CID summons and seeking protection from coercive action, including arrest. His petition also included a plea for an expedited hearing. However, a single-judge vacation bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das rejected the expedited hearing request and fixed 10 June as the next date of hearing.
The court date on 10 June falls a day before the CID's Tuesday deadline lapses, making the legal proceedings a critical parallel track to watch.
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Banerjee returns from New Delhi to comply with the 5 pm Tuesday deadline. Should he fail to appear again, the CID may consider more coercive legal steps — though his pending High Court petition seeking protection from arrest complicates that path. The 10 June hearing before Justice Chatterjee Das is now the pivotal moment in this standoff between the investigative agency and one of the TMC's most prominent national faces.
Point of View
Nominally under a state government led by the TMC itself, is under pressure to demonstrate procedural independence. The irony is sharp: the probe involves alleged signature irregularities on an Assembly resolution about Opposition appointments, yet it is the ruling party's own second-in-command who is dodging the summons. Banerjee's simultaneous presence at the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi while the CID served notice at his Kolkata home encapsulates the political tightrope he is walking. The Calcutta High Court hearing on 10 June is the real pressure valve — if the court declines to grant interim protection, the CID's options widen considerably.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the CID issued a notice to Abhishek Banerjee?
The CID is probing alleged mismatches in the signatures of certain TMC legislators on a resolution related to appointments to Opposition bench posts in the West Bengal Assembly. Abhishek Banerjee has been called for questioning as part of this investigation.
How many notices has the CID served on Abhishek Banerjee so far?
The CID has served three notices on Abhishek Banerjee. The first was issued on 30 May asking him to appear on 1 June, the second asked him to appear by 12 noon on Monday 8 June, and the third — served at his Kalighat Road residence — requires him to appear by 5 pm on Tuesday 9 June.
Why did Abhishek Banerjee not comply with the earlier notices?
He sought a 15-day extension after the first notice, citing medical issues following an assault at Sonarpur on 30 May. He sought further time on the second notice, saying he was in New Delhi for an INDIA bloc meeting.
What is the status of his Calcutta High Court petition?
Abhishek Banerjee has petitioned the Calcutta High Court challenging the CID summons and seeking protection from coercive action including arrest. Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das rejected his plea for an expedited hearing and fixed 10 June as the next date.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee?
Abhishek Banerjee is the General Secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress and a Lok Sabha member. He is also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and is widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in the TMC.
