The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police has been assigned the investigation of a fresh case involving Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. He was accused of provoking violence and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the recent state assembly elections. Previously, the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station was handling the inquiry into this matter.
A senior official from the state police confirmed that the CID has now taken charge of the investigation. The CID had already summoned Abhishek Banerjee three times for questioning in connection with a separate probe regarding discrepancies in the signatures of some Trinamool legislators on a crucial resolution related to appointments in the West Bengal assembly.
Despite Abhishek Banerjee’s attempt to have the FIR against him dismissed by the Calcutta High Court, his plea was rejected by a single-judge bench on May 21. The judge, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, raised concerns about Banerjee’s remarks at a pre-election rally, which led to the initial complaint and subsequent FIR registration. Justice Bhattacharya highlighted the potential law-and-order issues that could have arisen if the election results had been different.
Justice Bhattacharya granted Abhishek Banerjee interim protection from police actions, such as arrest, until July 31 under specific conditions, including a restriction on foreign travel without court permission.
