Absconding aide of Abhishek Banerjee seeks anticipatory bail in land case
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Kolkata: Sumit Roy, executive assistant to Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail after an arrest warrant was issued against him by a district court in West Midnapore, West Bengal.
Roy, who is currently absconding, is wanted by the police in connection with an FIR registered at Salboni Police Station over an alleged illegal land-grabbing case in the district.
On Monday, Roy’s counsel, Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay, moved a plea before the single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta. The court allowed the petition to be filed, but has not yet approved the request for an urgent hearing. The date for the first hearing is yet to be decided.
A few days ago, police arrested Sujoy Hazra, a former MLA from Medinipur Assembly constituency, in a separate land corruption case in the same district. He remains in police custody. However, it is not clear whether Roy has any connection with that case.
Meanwhile, a section within the Trinamool Congress, which has blamed Abhishek Banerjee for the party’s major defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, has also accused Roy of being a key link in corruption-related allegations involving his political aide.
Suspended TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta had earlier told mediapersons that Roy’s arrest could lead to major revelations within the party. He had also expressed concerns over a possible threat to Roy’s life amid the ongoing situation.
Recently, a joint team of Salboni Police Station, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and Kolkata Police conducted a search operation at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence on Kalighat Road in South Kolkata while looking for Roy.
The search operation was reportedly carried out after Roy’s mobile phone location was traced to the area.
With IANS inputs