Forged signature case: CID conducts searches at Mamata Banerjee’s residence, Abhishek Banerjee’s office

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday executed simultaneous search operations at the Kalighat residence-cum-office of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the office of TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The dramatic law enforcement action marks a significant escalation in the document forgery scandal that has triggered an unprecedented crisis within the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Accompanied by a large police contingent, including women personnel, investigators descended upon the party’s central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. According to agency officials, the search was initiated after Abhishek Banerjee stated in a legal response that the legislative signatures currently under scrutiny had been compiled at this specific location. The arrival of the CID team initially triggered a brief standoff, with party loyalists attempting to block entry in the absence of senior leadership, before investigators ultimately gained access to the premises.

The fast-moving criminal investigation traces back to a major internal rebellion following the party's recent electoral defeat. A formal proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker named senior lawmaker Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the designated Leader of the Opposition. However, a rival faction within the party alleged that the document contained multiple fabricated signatures, prompting an official forgery complaint and a subsequent FIR.

The political rift deepened significantly after 58 of the TMC's 80 elected MLAs openly defied Mamata Banerjee's leadership to back expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee for the opposition leader post instead. With the rebel camp successfully securing recognition from the Speaker last week, the ongoing signature forgery probe has effectively split the legislature party, presenting the most severe structural challenge to the TMC since its founding in 1998.