CID Probe intensifies in West Bengal as CID officials question senior Trinamool MLA Shovondeb Chattopadhyay over the Assembly signature forgery controversy. Investigation expands amid legal and political developments.
CID Probe: Senior Trinamool Congress MLA questioned for over an hour in connection with the West Bengal Assembly signature controversy; veteran leader pledges complete cooperation with investigators.
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | June 20, 2026
CID Probe into the alleged signature forgery controversy linked to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly intensified on Saturday after officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the residence of senior Trinamool Congress leader and Ballygunge MLA Shovondeb Chattopadhyay in Bhawanipur. According to sources familiar with the development, a two-member CID team remained at the veteran politician’s home for more than an hour and questioned him regarding the ongoing investigation.
The CID Probe has become one of the most closely watched political investigations in West Bengal, with multiple ruling party legislators and senior leaders coming under scrutiny. After the interaction with investigators, Shovondeb stated that he was fully willing to cooperate with every aspect of the inquiry. At the same time, he argued that those who initially raised allegations in the matter should also be examined by investigators, asserting that several individuals were present during the signing process and therefore possessed firsthand knowledge of the events.
Speaking on the issue, the senior legislator emphasized that he would extend complete support to the investigation. He maintained that a fair inquiry should include questioning all parties connected to the controversy, including those who accused others of irregularities. According to him, determining the full sequence of events requires hearing every individual involved in the process.
The dispute stems from developments surrounding the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had selected Shovondeb Chattopadhyay for the position, following which a formal communication was submitted to Assembly Speaker Rathin Ghosh on behalf of the party. The letter reportedly carried the signature of Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
However, the Speaker declined to accept the communication after allegations emerged that the signature appearing on the document had been forged. The matter soon escalated when Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee and Entally MLA Sandipan Saha formally approached the Speaker with complaints alleging irregularities in the signature process. The controversy triggered significant political turmoil within the party, leading to disciplinary action against both legislators.
Subsequently, Ritabrata secured the support of 59 legislators and submitted a separate communication to the Speaker. Based on that submission, he was recognized as the Leader of the Opposition, a move that further intensified the political dispute.
The state government later transferred the investigation to the CID, which has since expanded its inquiry. Investigators have already questioned Abhishek Banerjee on multiple occasions at the agency’s Bhawani Bhavan headquarters. The agency has also collected handwriting samples from several Trinamool legislators and has been conducting verification exercises involving party members connected to the disputed documents.
As part of the ongoing investigation, CID officials have visited the residences of several lawmakers, while others have been issued formal notices requiring their appearance before investigators. On Friday, officials attempted to serve a notice to senior Trinamool leader Kalyan Banerjee at his residence. However, family members reportedly declined to accept the notice as the MP was away in New Delhi. Sources indicated that investigators may make another attempt to deliver the notice.
Meanwhile, the legal battle over the opposition leadership issue continues. Shovondeb Chattopadhyay had approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the Speaker’s decision to recognize Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of the Opposition. A single-judge bench declined to grant interim relief. Following that order, Shovondeb moved a Division Bench seeking further judicial intervention. The matter is expected to come up for hearing in the coming week.
With political tensions rising and the investigation widening, the CID Probe is expected to remain at the center of West Bengal’s political discourse in the days ahead, particularly as both legal and investigative proceedings continue simultaneously.
