HC Grants Interim Protection to Abhishek Banerjee in Signature Forgery Case

PTI, June 11, 2026, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from any coercive action in a signature forgery case over the party's choice of Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

Justice Kausik Chanda, while granting the interim protection for three weeks, directed Banerjee to appear before the CID at its headquarters, 'Bhabani Bhaban', here by 6 pm on Thursday for questioning in the case.

The TMC general secretary complied with the order and reached 'Bhabani Bhaban' around 5.50 pm.

Justice Chanda directed the MP to meet the probe agency thereafter as and when required by it, with a 24-hour advance notice.

The matter will come up for hearing again after two weeks, Justice Chanda said.

Banerjee had moved the high court seeking protection from any coercive action by the state CID over its probe into the alleged forgery of party MLAs' signatures.

The CID is investigating a complaint filed with the Assembly Secretariat by two rebel TMC MLAs alleging that their signatures were forged on the party's resolution appointing Ballygunge MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of the Opposition.

The Assembly Secretariat filed an FIR with the Kolkata Police over the complaint by the two MLAs — Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha.

The probe was later transferred to the CID by the state's Home Secretary.

The Diamond Harbour MP was summoned by the CID thrice, but he did not appear before the investigation agency, citing various reasons, the state's lawyer submitted before the court.

Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, opposing Banerjee's prayer for protection from coercive action by the investigation agency in the case, stated that the original document of the resolution, a photocopy of which was submitted to the Speaker, was with the TMC national general secretary.