CID enters Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence-cum-TMC office in forged signature probe

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday entered the Kalighat residence-cum-central office of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee as part of its investigation into the alleged forging of signatures of party MLAs, a controversy that has triggered an unprecedented split within the ruling party.

According to sources, CID officials, accompanied by personnel from the Kalighat Police Station and a large contingent of women police officers, arrived at the party headquarters located at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in the afternoon. The move followed notices issued by the agency seeking information regarding the alleged forged signatures on documents submitted to the Assembly Speaker concerning the recognition of the Leader of Opposition.

CID officials stated that the search was linked to a response submitted by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. According to investigators, Banerjee had informed the agency that signatures of legislators were collected at the party's central office, prompting the verification exercise.

The CID team initially faced resistance from security personnel and party functionaries, leading to a brief standoff outside the premises. Senior police officers later intervened, following which the investigating team entered the residence-cum-office complex and began its search operation.

Several senior TMC leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra, reached the location after learning about the development. Later, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also arrived and interacted with CID officials.

Reacting to the development, Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the investigation was politically motivated and claimed that the action was intended to target the TMC leadership while Mamata Banerjee was away from Kolkata.

Meanwhile, another CID team visited Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street as part of the same investigation.

The controversy centres around allegations that signatures of several TMC legislators were forged on a proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker seeking recognition of senior party leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition.

The issue has escalated into the biggest internal crisis in the TMC’s history. The political turmoil intensified after a majority of the party's MLAs reportedly backed expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee for the Leader of Opposition post instead of the party's official nominee.

The rebel faction subsequently secured recognition from the Assembly Speaker, resulting in the first major split within the Trinamool Congress since its formation in 1998.

The CID’s simultaneous visits to the Kalighat headquarters and Abhishek Banerjee’s office are being viewed as a significant escalation in the investigation into the alleged forgery case, which remains at the centre of the ongoing political crisis within the party.