Kolkata, 9 June

A CID team on Tuesday entered the Trinamool Congress (TMC) headquarters-cum-residence of party chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata's Kalighat after a brief standoff with security personnel, as part of its investigation into the alleged forging of MLAs' signatures in a controversy that has deepened divisions within the party.

Officials from the state investigating agency, accompanied by Kalighat police and a large contingent of women personnel, arrived at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street in the afternoon.

The visit followed a response by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to an earlier CID notice, in which he reportedly stated that signatures of legislators had been collected at the party's central office.

Abhishek Banerjee, currently in New Delhi with Mamata Banerjee, has been summoned to appear before the CID by 5pm on Tuesday.

Senior TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra reached the premises but were denied entry. Later, TMC MP and advocate Kalyan Banerjee met CID officials and alleged that the investigation was politically motivated, accusing BJP leaders and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of targeting the party chief.

Former MP Subhasish Chakraborty initially said the party would not permit a search in Abhishek Banerjee's absence, leading to a brief confrontation. However, after additional police personnel were deployed, the CID entered the premises despite what officials described as mild resistance from security staff.

A separate CID team also visited Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office.

The case stems from allegations that signatures of several TMC legislators were forged on a proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker seeking recognition of senior MLA Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of Opposition.

The controversy, which led to an FIR and CID probe, has escalated into what is being described as the biggest internal crisis in the TMC's 28-year history after 58 of the party's 80 MLAs reportedly backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee for the post.