HC may hear ‘Signgate’ matter today, no urgent hearing for plea against CID raids

Kolkata: With state lawyers absent, Calcutta HC deferred the MLA ‘Signgate' case in which Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee is an accused, and is likely to hear it now on Thursday. The court also refused urgent hearing to Trinamool over CID raids in connection with the alleged signature scam.On Tuesday, a CID team searched the TMC party office in Kalighat, adjoining former CM Mamata Banerjee's residence. Senior advocate Kishore Datta submitted in court: "This pertains to police access, regarding the search which was carried out on June 9 without any search warrant, officials over there were detained, no independent witness. Documents were scanned and taken away."Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, however, refused urgent hearing and said the matter will come up in normal course. The vacation bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) on June 5 had fixed the ‘Signgate' case for hearing on Wednesday. Justice Kaushik Chanda on Wednesday directed Banerjee to serve a notice to the state so that its counsels are present in court.Banerjee had challenged the summons by CID and sought protection in the signature forgery case. He was summoned to Bhawani Bhawan on June 1, June 8 and June 9 but the MP did not turn up for any of the summons. According to his legal team, he had replied that he was sick and in Delhi. Hence, more time was sought.CID officers, meanwhile, explained the need to question Abhishek. "His statement is crucial in uncovering the full sequence of events regarding the forged signature case. We have collected handwriting samples from several legislators who said they did not sign the letter though it was in his letterhead," said an investigator.According to CID, the letter submitted by the TMC national general secretary to the assembly speaker, bearing the signatures of 70 MLAs, listed the address as 30B, Harish Chatterjee Street. Investigators had gone to the Trinamool office to locate the office copy of the resolution. "Where is that copy now? Who took it, and who removed it? These are the answers we are seeking from Abhishek," said cops.CID stated that they have videographed the entire sequence of them serving three notices to Abhishek and their search at the party office at Harish Chatterjee Street. Sources said they will submit the recordings in court, if needed.