Kolkata, 12 June (H.S.):

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal has taken over the investigation into a case related to alleged inflammatory remarks made by Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee during the Assembly election campaign.

According to senior police officials, the case was previously being investigated by the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station. All documents, digital evidence and case records collected during the preliminary investigation have now been handed over to the CID for a detailed probe.

A senior police officer said a formal order transferring the investigation to the CID has been issued. The agency will examine all aspects of the complaint and proceed in accordance with the law.

The case stems from a complaint lodged on May 5 by social activist Rajib Sarkar at Baguiati Police Station in North 24 Parganas district, a day after the declaration of the Assembly election results.

The complainant alleged that Banerjee made inflammatory remarks regarding post-election violence and the vote-counting process. The complaint also claimed that some of the statements were directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Police officials said that relevant video clips, social media links and other digital materials have been preserved as evidence. The CID will scrutinise the materials to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and determine the course of further legal action.

The transfer of the case to the CID comes amid continuing political sparring in West Bengal over allegations of post-poll violence and provocative political rhetoric. The investigation is expected to bring greater clarity to the facts surrounding the case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh