Bengal CID grills Abhishek’s close aide in land fraud case for around 10 hours

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s aide Sumit Roy was quizzed by the West Bengal CID for around 10 hours on Saturday in connection with a government land fraud case in Paschim Medinipur district, officials said.

Roy was questioned by CID sleuths at the probe agency’s headquarters in Bhawani Bhawan. The Supreme Court has granted him interim protection from arrest till August 14, subject to his cooperation with the investigation.

“Our officers questioned him for hours. The investigation is at a very preliminary stage and nothing could be disclosed right now,” an official said.

Roy, who appeared before the probe agency in the morning, left the headquarters around 8.20 pm.

When asked if Roy would be required to appear before the CID investigators again, the official said that it depends on the case’s requirements.

A senior CID officer had earlier said the agency was examining the allegations against Roy and would verify the claims based on evidence. “We are looking into the contents of the complaint and collecting all relevant documents. Every allegation will be verified based on evidence, and appropriate legal action will follow,” the officer had said.

The apex court had directed Roy to cooperate with the probe and remain available for questioning between 10 am and 6 pm whenever required. It had also said that no lawyer or any other person accompany him during questioning.

The CID had been looking for Roy after the arrest of former TMC MLA Sujoy Hazra in connection with the Salboni land fraud case.

Roy had approached courts seeking anticipatory bail.

While the Calcutta High Court had granted him anticipatory bail in a case related to an alleged job-for-money racket, his plea in the Salboni land case was rejected. He then approached the Supreme Court.

Police searched Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in June while looking for Roy, but couldn’t find him there.

Roy is also an accused in a separate case registered at Debra police station over allegations of taking money on the promise of providing jobs.