CID issues third notice to Abhishek Banerjee, asks him to appear by 5 pm tomorrow

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kolkata, June 8 (IANS) The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Monday issued a fresh notice to Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party’s Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, asking him to be present at the CID headquarters in south Kolkata by 5 p.m. on Tuesday for questioning in relation to an ongoing CID probe into alleged mismatches in the signatures of some Trinamool Congress legislators in a crucial resolution pertaining to appointments to key posts in the West Bengal Assembly reserved for the Opposition bench.

This is the third notice for interrogation that has been served on Abhishek Banerjee, also the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in the matter.

In the first notice served on May 30, Abhishek Banerjee was asked to appear for interrogation at the CID headquarters on June 1. However, on June 1, he sent a communique to the CID seeking 15 days’ time to appear, citing medical issues after being assaulted at Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district on the afternoon of May 30.

The CID then served a second notice asking him to appear for interrogation by 12 noon on Monday.

However, on Monday morning, Abhishek Banerjee, who is currently in New Delhi along with Mamata Banerjee to attend the crucial meeting of the Opposition India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, sent another communique to the CID seeking more time to appear for interrogation.

However, on Monday afternoon, a team of CID officials appeared at his residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata and served the third notice there.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Abhishek Banerjee returns to Kolkata from New Delhi and appears for interrogation within the stipulated deadline of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Incidentally, a crucial hearing is scheduled for June 10 before a single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Abhishek Banerjee’s petition challenging the CID summons and seeking protection from coercive action, including arrest, in the matter.

Last week, while approaching the Calcutta High Court with his petition challenging the CID summons and seeking protection, he also moved a plea for an expedited hearing.

However, the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das rejected the plea for an expedited hearing and fixed June 10 as the next date of hearing.

–IANS

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He was replying to a debate on electoral reforms. Nadda emphasised the ECI’s constitutional duty to purify voter lists, stating that restricting foreign nationals from influencing elections is essential for democratic integrity.

He cited a Supreme Court judgment, referencing cases like Lal Babu Hussain, underscoring that Electoral Registration Officers must verify citizenship. “Tarnishing the ECI is tantamount to tarnishing democracy,” Nadda asserted, likening opposition criticism to the Hindi proverb, “Jeet jaao tau Sikandar, haar jaao tau umpire kharab (Win and you’re Alexander, lose and the umpire is faulty)”.

Addressing EVM concerns raised by Congress member Digvijaya Singh, Nadda highlighted that Electronic Voting Machines were introduced during Rajiv Gandhi’s era. But Singh interrupted him and said VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) was mandated by a Supreme Court order in 2013. Nadda noted no mismatches in mandatory VVPAT verifications of over 60,000 machines and challenged critics to attempt hacking, as the ECI has publicly invited demonstrations, but none turned up.

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On voter rolls, Nadda pointed to significant increases in West Bengal since the last SIR in 2002, with voter numbers rising from 4.58 crore to 7.63 crore (66 per cent growth).

He cited the ECI data showing the sharpest surges in Bangladesh-bordering districts: Uttar Dinajpur (105 per cent), Malda (95 per cent), Murshidabad (88 per cent), South Parganas (83 per cent), and Jalpaiguri (82 per cent). The draft rolls published on December 16 revealed over 58 lakh deletions under SIR, including duplicates, deceased, and shifted voters, with high transparency, but few objections were raised.

Nadda accused Congress of submitting no reform suggestions since 2014 despite holding press conferences.

He contrasted ECI’s independence, noting multi-member commissions since 1989 and recent laws maintaining immunity.

Highlighting Congress’ long absences from power in states like Gujarat (30+ years), Odisha, and West Bengal (post-2011), he urged them to introspect on leadership issues rather than blame the ECI.

Digvijaya Singh countered, demanding VVPAT slips be handed to voters for verification and alleging pre-VVPAT EVM vulnerabilities. The debate underscored partisan divides, with the government framing SIR as cleansing for fair elections, while the opposition sees it as targeted disenfranchisement ahead of polls.

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He further added that the state is moving forward on a strong foundation, and no one can halt its progress.

The BJD leader reiterated the dream of legendary leader Biju Patnaik to make Odisha the number one state in Asia.

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