ED knocks on Abhishek doors, state removes security from Shantiniketan

Kolkata: Hours after Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking protection from any coercive action in the CID case of Trinamool MLA signature forgery case, the Enforcement Directorate issued summons to him in the primary teachers’ recruitment irregularity case.

Banerjee was asked to appear before ED’s Kolkata zonal office on June 15.

The development took place a little after the Calcutta HC allowed Banerjee to file a case, challenging the CID summons and seeking protection from any coercive action in the MLA signature forgery case. The ED launched a probe in the primary teachers’ recruitment case, based on an FIR registered by the CBI against alleged irregularities in teachers’ appointments.

The same day, cops from the Kalighat Police Station removed the police kiosks, barricades, scanner machines and other surveillance equipment kept outside Shantiniketan, Banerjee’s house on Harish Mukherjee Road. The security convoy and guard rail in front of Banerjee’s house were removed earlier.

On verbal prayer by Banerjee’s lawyers, a vacation bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Ray granted permission to file a petition, challenging the FIR in the signature forgery case and seeking interim protection from any coercive action by the CID. The case is likely to be heard on Friday.

The CID sent the summons to Banerjee following the submission of a letter, submitted by the Trinamool to the Assembly secretariat on May 19, choosing party MLA Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay as their leader of opposition (LoP). Signed by 70-odd newly elected party MLAs, it was alleged that MLA’s signatures were forged. A complaint was lodged at the Hare Street Police Station.

Banerjee skipped his summons to Bhawani Bhawan on Monday, citing health reasons. He reportedly sought a couple of weeks to attend the summons after recovering.

CID officers on Saturday personally handed the summons at his Kalighat home on Saturday afternoon. In the evening that day, during his visit to Sonarpur to meet the family of a Trinamool worker, who was allegedly killed in post-poll violence, he was attacked with stones and eggs, leading to injury.