Calcutta High Court Grants Interim Protection to Abhishek Banerjee in Alleged LoP Signature Forgery Case

June 11, 2026 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest and other coercive measures to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with a criminal case alleging forgery of legislators’ signatures on a resolution concerning the appointment of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Kaushik Chanda directed Banerjee to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and appear before the investigating agency at its Kolkata office at 6 p.m. on Thursday after returning from Delhi. The Court ordered that no coercive action, including arrest, be taken against him for a period of two weeks.

At the same time, the Bench clarified that the investigating agency would remain free to conduct search and seizure operations in accordance with law to collect documents and other evidence relevant to the probe. The Court further directed that if Banerjee’s presence is required for additional questioning, investigators must provide him with at least 24 hours’ prior notice.

The matter stems from allegations that a resolution seeking recognition of senior AITC leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly contained forged signatures of several newly elected legislators. The disputed resolution was reportedly prepared during a meeting held at the residence of Trinamool Congress chief and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The controversy erupted after two Trinamool MLAs, Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, challenged the authenticity of the document. They alleged that the resolution had been fabricated and manipulated, claiming that 14 of the 70 signatures appearing on the document were not genuine.

Following the complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched a formal investigation. As part of the probe, searches were reportedly conducted at both Mamata Banerjee’s residence and Abhishek Banerjee’s office.

In the aftermath of the allegations, the Trinamool Congress expelled Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, citing anti-party activities. The disciplinary action came amid escalating internal tensions within the party.

The alleged forgery case has unfolded against the backdrop of significant political upheaval in West Bengal following the Trinamool Congress’s defeat in the Assembly elections held on May 4. The loss brought an end to the party’s 15-year rule in the State and paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government.

The electoral setback has reportedly intensified internal dissent and factional divisions within the Trinamool Congress, with several leaders openly expressing concerns over the party’s functioning. Reports of possible defections by party leaders have further fueled political uncertainty.

As the investigation progresses, the CID is examining the circumstances surrounding the preparation and submission of the disputed resolution, while the High Court’s interim order ensures that Abhishek Banerjee remains protected from arrest pending further proceedings. The matter will be taken up again after two weeks.