In a dramatic turn amid a day of intense political developments in West Bengal, officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday reached the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee to serve a summons in connection with the alleged teacher recruitment corruption case.
The ED team first visited Banerjee’s residence on Harish Chatterjee Street in south Kolkata, shortly after he left for former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat. Finding him absent, officials proceeded to his another residence on Kalighat Road, where the summons was reportedly served. While there was no official confirmation, sources indicated that the notice pertains to the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment.
The development unfolded against the backdrop of a politically charged day in the state, marked by turmoil in the Legislative Assembly over disputed MLA signatures and the selection of the Leader of the Opposition. Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee dissolved all legislative committees, signalling a major organisational reset within the TMC.
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Meanwhile, Abhishek Banerjee is already under scrutiny in a separate case being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), West Bengal, involving alleged signature forgery linked to a letter submitted in the Assembly. The CID had earlier summoned him to appear at its Bhabani Bhawan headquarters, but he did not attend, citing health issues and seeking a 15-day extension.
Unwilling to delay the probe, a CID team later visited his residence on Harish Chatterjee Street. The forgery case stems from allegations that signatures of several MLAs on a letter regarding the election of Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay as Leader of the Opposition may have been manipulated. Following a complaint at Hare Street Police Station, the CID initiated the investigation.
On Wednesday, Banerjee also moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the legality of the CID notice. His counsel, Shirshanya Banerjee, argued before Justice Apurba Sinha Ray that the summons was legally untenable and sought its quashing. The court granted permission to file the petition, with the matter likely to be heard on June 5.
The ED’s latest move adds to the mounting legal challenges faced by the Diamond Harbour MP. He has previously been summoned multiple times by the central agency in connection with the coal smuggling case. His wife, Rujira Banerjee, has also been questioned in the same investigation.
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