CID enters Mamata Banerjee's residence in 'forged signature' probe

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat house was raided by Bengal state investigating agency CID on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a controversy over alleged forged signatures of its MLAs.

A contingent of CID officials, women police, and local police station arrived at at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street around late afternoon, as per reports.

The CID had earlier served notices to deek information over alleged forging of signatures of TMC MLAs on a proposal submitted to the Assembly Speaker for recognition of the Leader of Opposition.

The search was conducted after a reply to an earlier notice from TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

"In his response, Abhishek Banerjee stated that signatures of MLAs were collected at the party's central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. Based on that statement, we have come here as part of the investigation," a CID officer said.

Abhishek and Mamata are currently in New Delhi. Abhishek has been summoned by the CID to appear before it in the case by Tuesday evening.

The investigating team met with some resistance from entering the premises, leading to a brief standoff with security personnel.

Meanwhile, another CID team visited Abhishek's Camac Street office as part of the ongoing probe.

The controversy triggered a mutiny as 58 of the TMC's 80 MLAs defied the party leadership and backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee for the post instead of the party's official nominee, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay.