Am I hiding anything? Abhishek slams search at home; Mamata rushes to nephew's aid

Shalbani police searched Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence for more than four hours in a case linked to his aide Sumit Roy. The move came as the Trinamool leader faced court scrutiny, CID questioning and a public attack from Kalyan Banerjee.

In Short

• Police searched every room broke open lock, says Abhishek Banerjee
• Mamata Banrjee rushes to his residence amid early-morning operation
• ED raids TMC MLA Madan Mitra in recruitment scam investigation

"You can ask the investigating agencies about the search, whether I have hidden anything inside?" — with that pointed response to reporters after emerging from his searched residence, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee sought to turn the spotlight back on investigators even as dramatic political scenes unfolded across West Bengal on Saturday.

In another allegation directed at the authorities, Banerjee claimed, "They broke open the lock, entered the house and searched every room".

His visibly irked remarks came after a pre-dawn police operation at his Kalighat residence, an action that triggered a hurried visit by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, intensified political speculation and added to the growing pressure on a party already confronting legal battles, internal rebellion and the fallout of its Assembly election defeat.

The developments began shortly after 3 am when teams from Shalbani Police Station in Paschim Medinipur, accompanied by Kolkata Police and protected by central force deployment outside the premises, arrived at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata’s Patuapara area.

According to sources, the operation was linked to a case involving Sumit Roy, considered a close aide and personal assistant to the Diamond Harbour MP.

Police personnel remained at the location for more than four hours as officers moved in and out of the premises.

As word of the operation spread, Mamata Banerjee rushed to her nephew’s residence.

Sources said the former chief minister spent some time inside before leaving. Her swift arrival reflected both the sensitivity of the operation and the wider political implications for a party currently facing one of the most difficult phases in its recent history.

Abhishek’s comments after the operation reflected an attempt to publicly challenge the necessity and scale of the search.

Responding to questions regarding whether his aide was being sheltered at the residence, he dismissed the suggestion and questioned the purpose behind the exercise.

Officials, however, did not immediately clarify the exact details of the case connected to the operation.

Reacting strongly to the developments, the TMC slammed the police action against Abhishek, writing on X, "Political vendetta gets from bad to worse".

SEARCHES FOLLOW CID RAID

Saturday’s developments unfolded barely two days after Abhishek Banerjee appeared before the West Bengal CID for nearly six hours of questioning in the Assembly signature forgery case — a controversy that has evolved into one of the defining flashpoints of the Trinamool Congress crisis.

The Calcutta High Court had granted him interim protection from coercive action while directing him to cooperate with investigators.

CID investigators questioned him regarding disputed documents connected to the appointment of key Assembly positions and have summoned him again as the probe continues.

ED RAIDS TMC MLA MADAN MITRA

Even as attention remained fixed on Kalighat, another major development unfolded elsewhere in the state. Enforcement Directorate officials carried out searches at seven locations linked to senior TMC leader and MLA Madan Mitra as part of a money laundering investigation tied to the alleged municipality recruitment scam.

Raids were conducted at his Dakshineswar residence and other associated premises.

Investigators alleged Mitra was linked to more than 125 irregular appointments and suspected of receiving bribes through intermediaries.

The legal pressure on the party has coincided with growing internal turbulence.

TMC'S INTERNAL CRISIS

Senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee recently launched an unusually direct attack on Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of arrogance and blaming him for pushing the party towards crisis.

Yet amid signs of organisational damage control, Abhishek later responded by saying Kalyan had every right to criticise him, while Kalyan softened his tone and described him as "like a son", urging leaders to remain united.

For the Trinamool Congress, Saturday’s events represented more than a police search or another round of investigations.

Abhishek Banerjee’s sharp public response, Mamata Banerjee’s immediate intervention and the parallel ED action against Madan Mitra highlighted the scale of the pressure building around the party leadership.

With fresh summons pending, investigations widening and internal tensions far from resolved, the confrontation witnessed on Saturday morning may mark another turning point in the unfolding political battle in West Bengal.

- Ends
With PTI inputs