The Calcutta High Court has provided temporary protection to Sumit Roy, an executive assistant of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, from coercive action until next Tuesday. The court’s decision came after a hearing delay due to the Rath Yatra, with the next hearing scheduled for July 20. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh issued a verbal order preventing investigators from arresting Roy or taking strict actions against him until the next hearing.
Roy is facing allegations of selling over 50 acres of government land in Salbani, West Midnapore, using forged documents through brokers. Additionally, he has been linked to accusations of offering jobs in exchange for money in Debra, West Midnapore, leading to multiple FIRs and police searches in Kolkata, including Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat. A lookout notice has been issued against Roy for his involvement in the land deals.
Authorities claim that Roy was involved in fabricating documents for the illegal land transactions, with money allegedly passing through him. Local residents, including panchayat leaders, have verified the land sales. The transactions allegedly involved Sujoy Hazra providing funds, which ultimately reached Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata. Earlier judicial proceedings were delayed due to Justice Joy Sengupta’s illness, but the case is now under Justice Ghosh’s purview, who has granted Roy relief until the next hearing on Tuesday.
