Report by 5 pm today: CID sends 3rd summons to Abhishek

Kolkata: Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was on Monday served a third notice by the state CID, directing him to appear before it by 5 pm on Tuesday. The state investigating agency said it found little ground to grant further time to the Diamond Harbour MP, who appealed for more time.

The notice was issued hours after Abhishek did not appear before CID in the Assembly signature forgery case, citing prior engagements in Delhi. The Trinamool general secretary along with former Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, attended the opposition INDIA coalition meeting in Delhi on Monday.

It was the second time that Abhishek avoided the CID appearance in the signature forgery case. He sent a letter to the CID, stating a case was ongoing in the Calcutta High Court, with a hearing slated for this week. Additionally, he mentioned, he was currently in Delhi. In the letter, Abhishek requested additional time.

A CID team on Monday evening visited Abhishek’s Kalighat home for the third time. Finding the main gate locked, officers carried out a videography of the spot before serving him the third notice, giving Abhishek 24 hours of additional time to appear before the investigators.

Abhishek’s legal team stated that after the June 5 order, the matter was mentioned before Justice Kaushik Chanda on Monday as it was supposed to be taken up by the regular bench. Justice Chanda was informed that the hearing was slated for June 10.

Considering the third summons, the legal team may bring this to the knowledge of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday as well. “From a legal understanding, it seemed rushed, and there seems to be a malicious design behind it. In his reply on Monday, Abhishek informed CID that he did not have the original of the resolution book. But the CID in their third summons notice again asked him for the original resolution book. It seems the third summons was drafted before the reply was sent,” a source claimed.

On June 5, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee mentioned before the vacation bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das) for urgent hearing. The court denied it and stated the matter would be taken up in accordance with its position on the list — serial number 221. But by 4.30 pm, when the judge rose for the day, the list reached somewhere near 210, and the matter could not be taken up for hearing. Justice Chatterjee (Das) informed the parties that it would be taken up for hearing before a regular bench on June 10. Abhishek challenged the CID summons and sought protection in the signature forgery case. He was summoned to Bhawani Bhawan on June 8.

Previously, the Diamond Harbour MP avoided the CID appearance on June 1, citing health issues and injuries from the attack on him in Sonarpur . Following it, CID officers visited Abhishek’s home again last Monday, serving a second notice for his appearance. But Abhishek did not meet the CID officers, and his representative received the notice.

CID officers claimed they were looking at legal options as they did not rule out the possibility of Abhishek “deliberately avoiding the appearances”. The investigating agency indicated if he continued to evade appearances, the CID would not hesitate to take strict legal action against him. “We consider it crucial to interrogate Abhishek in the Assembly signature forgery case. Samples of handwriting from four legislators have been collected,” said an officer.

An officer said the signatures on the documents did not match the sample signatures and said Abhishek’s questioning would establish the sequence of events.



Abhishek had earlier said he would respond after consulting legal advisers. “They arrived with a notice, and I accepted it (first notice). I have not read it yet. I will take appropriate steps after consulting my lawyer. If any cooperation is required from me, or if I am summoned, I will attend,” he had said.