The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) on Thursday arrested Sumit Roy, a close aide and PA of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee, from the latter’s 121 Kalighat Road residence. The move comes after the Supreme Court turned down Roy’s pre-arrest appeal on Thursday in the Salboni land-grabbing case.
The court of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court (CHC)’s order denying pre-arrest protection, vacating the interim stay of protection against the arrest of Roy.
Hours later, Roy was arrested in connection with the same case of illegal land grabbing, fraudulent transfer, and the sale of government land in Salboni, in the West Midnapore district. Investigators found a land-grabbing racket in the West Midnapore district involving Roy and other TMC leaders. Two arrests were already made before they shifted the focus towards Roy.
Abhishek’s PA was taken to the CID headquarters, Bhawani Bhawan, where formalities were completed. Roy was questioned 11 times by the CID in connection with the case. He was then taken to the state-run SSKM Hospital for a medical examination and brought back to the CID HQ. Abhishek’s PA is likely to be produced in a West Midnapore court on Friday.
There was a look-out notice for Roy, fearing he would abscond again. In the wee hours of June 13, the Salboni police and state and central security forces surrounded Abhishek’s house after tracing Roy’s tower location, but could not locate the latter or seize relevant documents as evidence. The police had waited since 3:00 am and, after receiving no response, used gas cutters to break open the lock almost three hours later.
Roy only emerged for questioning after the CHC gave him protection against coercive action being taken against him. The court, however, said that Roy should appear and cooperate with questioning in the investigation of the case. In the SC, the CID appealed for the removal of Roy’s pre-arrest protection, citing that the accused was not cooperating with investigators during questioning.
