West Bengal CID Searches Mamata Banerjee's Residence in Forgery Probe

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a team from the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived at the Kalighat residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, reportedly with a search warrant. This significant development is part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged signature forgery case involving several TMC Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The core of the controversy revolves around a letter submitted to the West Bengal Assembly Secretariat on May 19, which proposed senior TMC MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition. This document allegedly contained forged signatures of approximately 70 newly elected TMC MLAs. Following complaints by rebel legislators Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, who alleged their signatures were forged, an FIR was registered at Kolkata's Hare Street Police Station. The case was subsequently handed over to the CID for a comprehensive probe. National General Secretary of the TMC, Abhishek Banerjee, who is also Mamata Banerjee's nephew, has been a central figure in this investigation. He had reportedly signed the cover letter accompanying the contentious document. The CID had issued multiple summonses to Abhishek Banerjee, directing him to appear for questioning. However, he had skipped at least two prior summonses, citing health reasons and his engagements in New Delhi for the INDIA bloc meeting. The latest summons directed him to appear by 5 PM on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The CID's visit to Mamata Banerjee's residence, which also serves as the central party office of the Trinamool Congress, stemmed from a statement made by Abhishek Banerjee. In his response to an earlier CID notice, he had indicated that the signatures of the MLAs were collected at the party's central office located at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street, the same address as Mamata Banerjee's residence. Based on this information, the CID team sought to search the premises to gather evidence, specifically looking for the original resolution book and attendance sheet from the May 6 TMC meeting where the Leader of Opposition nomination was purportedly endorsed. Upon their arrival, the CID team initially faced resistance from security personnel and party members present at the residence. TMC leader and former MP Subhasish Chakraborty reportedly stated that they would not permit a search in the absence of Abhishek Banerjee. However, after a brief standoff, the CID team, which included a large contingent of women police personnel, eventually gained entry into the premises around late afternoon and proceeded with their search and verification exercise. During the search, some documents were reportedly seized by the 30-member CID team. The incident immediately sparked strong political reactions. TMC leaders, including senior MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, condemned the CID's action, labeling it a "shameless political vendetta" and questioning the timing of the visit when both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were in New Delhi attending an INDIA bloc meeting. Conversely, State Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Agnimitra Paul asserted that the CID search demonstrated that no one is above the law, accusing the former Chief Minister of tolerating corruption. The investigation has already involved the formation of a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the CID. The SIT has recorded statements from numerous TMC MLAs, with at least three legislators reportedly confirming that the signatures against their names in the meeting resolution book were not theirs. One MLA also stated he did not even attend the meeting in question. Abhishek Banerjee has also filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court challenging the summonses, with the hearing scheduled for June 10. This alleged signature forgery case has escalated into one of the most significant internal crises in the 28-year history of the Trinamool Congress, triggering an unprecedented split within the party, with a rebel faction emerging. The ongoing probe and its political ramifications continue to be a major news story in West Bengal and India.

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