Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Supreme Court stays arrest of Abhishek Banerjee's aide Sumit Roy
There was a man named Sumit Roy who used to work as a personal assistant to a famous politician named Abhishek Banerjee.
The police in West Bengal wanted to arrest Roy because of a case about an alleged land scam.
The Supreme Court, a very important court in India, said the police cannot arrest him for now.
The judges said he has to give bail bonds to remain free until the next hearing.
Roy must go to the police station every day from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening to help with the investigation.
He cannot bring his lawyer or anyone else with him when he goes.
The government's lawyer, Tushar Mehta, wanted the police to keep Roy in custody for questioning.
Roy's lawyer, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, said the case was made because of politics after the BJP government came to power.
The judges did not say who is right; they just ordered that Roy cannot be arrested for now.
The court will hear the case again on August 14.
The Supreme Court stayed the arrest of Sumit Roy, former personal assistant to Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, in an alleged land scam.
The case relates to FIR No. 133 of 2026, registered at Salboni police station, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Bengal government, opposed interim protection and sought Roy's custodial interrogation.
Roy's counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued the case was politically motivated after the BJP government assumed office in Bengal.
Roy must cooperate with the investigation, be available at the police station from 10am to 6pm, and the matter returns to court on August 14.
- Who
- Sumit Roy, former personal assistant to Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee; the case was heard by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
- What
- The Supreme Court stayed Roy's arrest in an alleged land scam case (FIR No. 133 of 2026).
- When
- The order was passed on Thursday, with the next hearing set for August 14.
- Where
- The Supreme Court; the case was registered at Salboni police station, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal.
- Why
- Roy's counsel argued the case was politically motivated after the BJP government assumed office in Bengal, while the Bengal government sought custodial interrogation.
Roy's defense
Bengal government
Political motivation of the case
Roy's defense
Roy's counsel argued the case was politically motivated after the BJP government assumed office in Bengal, noting the Calcutta High Court had already granted Roy bail in another case.
Bengal government
Tushar Mehta said no cases were registered against these individuals during the Trinamool government's tenure, adding that the then chief minister herself allegedly intervened to stop an arrest attempt.
Custodial interrogation
Roy's defense
Roy's counsel opposed custodial interrogation, and the court granted interim protection from arrest pending the next hearing.
Bengal government
The Bengal government opposed interim protection and sought Roy's custodial interrogation.
- Petitioner
- Sumit Roy, former personal assistant to Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee
- Case
- Alleged land scam; FIR No. 133 of 2026
- Police Station
- Salboni, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal
- Bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan
- Counsel for Bengal government
- Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta
- Counsel for Roy
- Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan
- Interim order
- Arrest stayed until next hearing, subject to furnishing bail bonds
- Conditions
- Available for questioning 10am-6pm; not accompanied by an advocate or any other person
- Next hearing
- August 14