ED Interrogates TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Amid Party Turmoil
In a significant political development, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee was interrogated for 11 hours by the Enforcement Directorate in Kolkata over an alleged teacher recruitment scam. This comes as the TMC faces a rebellion, with a majority of its MPs joining a rival party and signaling support for the NDA. Amidst this turmoil, Banerjee was also given a tight deadline to present his case to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The situation raises questions about the future of the TMC as it navigates internal conflicts and external pressures.
| Jun 16, 2026, 15:28 IST
ED's Extended Interrogation of Abhishek Banerjee
In Kolkata, West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted an extensive 11-hour interrogation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam. As the party faces internal dissent, he was also required to present his case before the Lok Sabha Speaker with very little notice. The TMC is currently grappling with a crisis, as 20 out of its 29 Lok Sabha MPs have rebelled and joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, signaling their support for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Currently, there are 28 TMC MPs in the Lok Sabha, with a by-election pending in Bashirhat due to the passing of MP Noorul Islam.
Deadline Imposed by Lok Sabha Speaker
Did the Lok Sabha Speaker Set a Two-Hour Deadline for Abhishek?
According to sources within the TMC, the Lok Sabha Speaker's office sent an email to Abhishek at 2 PM on the day of his ED questioning, giving him only two hours to meet with the Speaker by 4 PM that same day.
Speaker's Request for Both Sides' Arguments
Speaker's Interest in Hearing Both Sides
As reported by sources, Abhishek was summoned to present his case to the Speaker, who wishes to hear arguments from both sides before making any decisions regarding the merger request from the rebel TMC MPs. Led by Kakoli Ghosh, the 20 dissenting MPs had written to Speaker Om Birla on Sunday, informing him of their merger with the lesser-known Tripura-based party, NCPI (Nationalist Citizens Party of India). An hour after the email was sent, the Speaker's office contacted another TMC MP, Kirti Azad, to inform him about the meeting. Azad then visited the Speaker's office to explain that Abhishek would be unable to attend on time due to his ongoing interrogation by the ED. He subsequently requested a rescheduled date and time for the meeting, reiterating that Abhishek is willing to fully cooperate with the Speaker's proceedings.