Kolkata: Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared before a Salt Lake court on Wednesday under heavy security — including police officers carrying wooden shields against a potential “egg attack” — to submit a voice sample in connection with a CID probe over allegedly provocative remarks made during the election campaign.The Diamond Harbour MP arrived at Mayukh Bhavan at 11:50am. Bidhannagar Police had cordoned off the area on Calcutta HC’s instructions. Banerjee proceeded directly to the chamber of additional chief judicial magistrate Abhijit Pakhrin, where he was asked to read from a text containing key phrases from the audio clip at the centre of the probe.High-fidelity recording equipment captured the natural tone, frequency and pitch of his voice. The process lasted close to an hour, after which the sample was sealed. “Forensic audio analysts will use spectrographic tools to compare the sample against the primary electronic evidence and submit their findings before the court,” a senior court official said. Banerjee left at 1:30pm without speaking to the media.His aunt, former CM Mamata Banerjee, reacted on Facebook Live later in the day. “Abhishek had said that a DJ would be played — everyone plays a DJ. During election meetings, every political party speaks against the other. You will hurl abuses one-sidedly and we will not counter it — is that possible in a democracy? You are surpassing even Hitler and Mussolini,” she said, directing her remarks at BJP’s Amit Malviya.The appearance was compelled by a stern Calcutta HC order after Banerjee had evaded three consecutive summonses despite enjoying interim protection from coercive action since May 21.Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had labelled the delays an “abuse of the due process of court” and warned that interim protection would be recalled and the revision application dismissed with exemplary costs if Banerjee failed to cooperate.Banerjee’s legal team had earlier argued before a coordinate bench that a voice sample was redundant since the MP had not denied the voice was his — but faced with the court’s tough stance against “running from one court to another,” the petition was withdrawn.The case stems from two FIRs — one in Baguiati and another in Siliguri — over a campaign speech in which Banerjee allegedly warned that “the DJ will definitely play, and it will play so loudly that your ears will ring” after the May 4 results. The CID charged him with inciting public unrest.Rajib Sarkar, the primary complainant in the Baguiati FIR, said: “I have no personal enmity or political alignment. But an MP cannot use such intimidating language. I am glad the law acted as an equaliser and forced an influential person like Banerjee to appear before a magistrate like a common citizen.”
