Kolkata, 13 June (H.S.): In a dramatic pre-dawn operation, a large contingent of West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police personnel carried out an extensive search at the Kalighat residence of Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday.

According to sources, police teams arrived at the residence shortly after 3 a.m. After repeatedly knocking on the door and calling out to occupants for an extended period, officers allegedly broke open the lock and entered the premises. A thorough search of the house was conducted for several hours.

Central Armed Police Force personnel were deployed outside the residence during the operation. Following reports of the search, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also visited the Kalighat residence. She left the premises shortly after the police team concluded its operation and exited the house around 8 a.m.

Speaking to reporters after the search, Abhishek Banerjee confirmed that police had broken the lock and searched the entire house. He stated that records of the entire operation were available. However, authorities have not yet officially disclosed the specific case or investigation in connection with which the search was carried out.

Sources indicated that personnel from Shalboni Police Station were part of the operation and that women police officers were also included in the search team.

Local residents reported a heavy security presence outside the residence from the early hours of the morning, with several police vehicles stationed in the area. Some officers were seen exiting the house after 7 a.m., holding discussions before re-entering the premises. The operation lasted for nearly five hours before the police team finally left.

The development comes amid increasing scrutiny of Abhishek Banerjee in multiple ongoing investigations. Earlier this week, he appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Bhawani Bhavan in connection with an alleged signature-forgery case involving the West Bengal Assembly. Acting on directions from the Calcutta High Court, CID officials questioned him for nearly five-and-a-half hours.

While allowing the investigation to continue, the court directed that no coercive action be taken against Banerjee for two weeks and instructed him to cooperate fully with investigators.

On Friday, a CID team had also visited Banerjee’s Kalighat residence to serve a notice in connection with a cyber complaint alleging provocative statements made during the election campaign against BJP workers and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He has been asked to appear before investigators on June 16 in that matter. In the alleged signature-forgery case, he has been directed to appear again at Bhawani Bhavan on June 14.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing alleged irregularities in primary teacher recruitment, has also summoned Banerjee for questioning on June 15.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh