Trinamul MLA Shaukat Mollah has sought a fortnight’s time to appear before the CBI in response to the summons to appear for questioning in connection with the central agency’s probe into the alleged coal pilferage case.

The CBI had summoned the MLA of Canning East at its Nizam Palace office by 11 am on Friday to question him if he knew some of the alleged operators of the coal theft and carry details of his bank accounts and income tax returns.

“A few administrative and political meetings have been lined in Canning and my client has to attend them,” Mollah’s lawyer said, giving a letter to the CBI explaining the MLA’s unavailability on Friday.

The Trinamul MLA had earlier sent an e-mail to the CBI on Thursday saying he would not be able to attend the questioning session lined up on Friday.