CID team enters Kalighat residence-cum-party office as part of forged signature probe; TMC alleges political vendetta

PTI, June 9, 2026, Kolkata: A CID team on Tuesday entered Trinamool Congress's central party office-cum-residence of party supremo Mamata Banerjee in the Kalighat area here, after a brief standoff with security personnel and a party leader, as a part of its probe into the controversy surrounding alleged forged signatures of TMC MLAs, which has triggered a split in the party.

Officials of the state investigating agency, accompanied by personnel from the Kalighat police station and a large contingent of women police personnel, arrived at the party's central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street around late afternoon, sources said.

The CID's move comes days after the agency served notices seeking information related to the alleged forging of signatures of TMC legislators on a proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker for recognition of the Leader of Opposition.

According to CID officials present at the spot, the search was sought on the basis of a reply submitted by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to an earlier notice issued by the agency.

"In his response, Abhishek Banerjee stated that signatures of MLAs were collected at the party's central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. Based on that statement, we have come here as part of the investigation," a CID officer said.

Banerjee, who is presently in New Delhi along with Mamata Banerjee, was been summoned by the CID to appear before it in the case by 5 pm on Tuesday.

As soon as the news spread, senior TMC leaders and MLAs Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra reached the residence of the party supremo but were not allowed to enter the premises. Later, TMC MP and advocate Kalyan Banerjee reached the spot and spoke to the CID officials.

Initially, the investigating team was prevented from entering the premises, leading to a brief standoff with security personnel posted at the complex. TMC leader and former MP Subhasish Chakraborty had earlier said the party would not permit a search in the absence of Banerjee.

"We have not allowed the CID to enter the premises in the absence of Abhishek Banerjee. Once he comes, the CID can come and search the house," Chakraborty told reporters.

However, the situation changed later in the afternoon when the CID called in a larger police contingent and entered the premises despite what officials described as "mild resistance" from security personnel stationed there.

Senior officers from the Kalighat police station rushed to the spot and were seen arguing with the security staff, who are attached to the Kolkata Police. The officers reportedly instructed them not to obstruct the search operation being carried out by the investigating agency.

Sources said the CID team subsequently entered the residence-cum-office complex and began its search and verification exercise.

Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien on Tuesday accused investigating agencies of carrying out a politically-motivated operation.

In a post on X, O'Brien alleged that the action was deliberately timed to coincide with a meeting between Banerjee and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

"Political vendetta shamelessly timed! Exactly at the same time as AITC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee was having a meeting today in Delhi with Mrs Sonia Gandhi, CID was forcefully trying to enter the AITC party HQ adjoining residence in Kolkata. First loot vote, now loot files of a political rival. Democracy," he said.