A team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday reached the Trinamool Congress party office in Kalighat, adjacent to the residence of former Chief Minister and TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee, as part of its probe into the alleged signature controversy.
The CID team, accompanied by personnel from Kalighat Police Station and a contingent of women police officers, arrived at the party office around noon. However, investigators were initially unable to enter the premises and had to wait outside the gate for some time.
Soon after, former TMC MP and the party’s treasurer, Subhasish Chakraborty, came out and engaged in a heated exchange with the CID officials. Chakraborty informed the investigators that both Mamata Banerjee and TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee were currently in Delhi and that he was overseeing the office in their absence.
According to sources, CID officials repeatedly told Chakraborty that they had arrived to conduct a search and that the presence or absence of specific leaders had no bearing on the investigation. The team also carried a notice issued to Abhishek Banerjee and showed it to Chakraborty while seeking permission to proceed with the search.
Chakraborty, however, declined to grant entry to the investigators. “How can I allow entry into the office when those concerned are not present?” he reportedly told the CID team.
The search attempt is linked to the ongoing investigation into the signature-related case.
This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.
