3 weeks ago
Supreme Court stays arrest of Abhishek Banerjee's aide Sumit Roy
Sumit Roy is a helper to Abhishek Banerjee, an important politician in West Bengal.
The police say Roy took government-owned land in a place called Salboni and sold it using fake papers.
Taking land that belongs to the government is against the law, so the police want to arrest him.
Roy went to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, to ask for protection.
The court said Roy will not be arrested for now.
But it also said he must cooperate with the investigation and be available for questions from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening.
The court said he must come alone, without a lawyer or anyone else.
The government's lawyer wanted Roy to be kept in jail for questioning, but the court granted him protection anyway.
Earlier, another court had said Roy could be arrested in the land case, though it gave him protection in a different case about jobs.
Now Roy must help the police with their investigation while the case continues.
The Supreme Court stayed the arrest of Sumit Roy, Personal Assistant to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, in the Salboni land-grabbing case.
The top court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, directed Roy to fully cooperate with the investigation, remain available from 10 am to 6 pm, and not be accompanied by any advocate or other person.
The Calcutta High Court had rejected Roy's anticipatory bail plea on August 3 in the land case while granting him conditional bail in a separate cash-for-jobs case.
Roy is accused of grabbing and selling government-vested land in Salboni, West Midnapore, using fake documents, in a case registered for cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed interim relief, arguing custodial interrogation was necessary, and alleged earlier arrest attempts were obstructed by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
- Who
- Sumit Roy, Personal Assistant to Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, who sought and received interim protection from the Supreme Court.
- What
- The Supreme Court stayed Roy's arrest and ordered him to fully cooperate with the investigation in the Salboni land-grabbing case.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi; the alleged land-grabbing concerns Salboni in West Midnapore, West Bengal.
- When
- Thursday, August 6, following the Calcutta High Court's rejection of his anticipatory bail plea on August 3.
- Why
- Roy apprehended arrest in the land-grabbing case if he appeared before investigators as ordered in the separate cash-for-jobs case, so he sought interim protection while the investigation continues.
Roy's defence
West Bengal government
Custodial interrogation
Roy's defence
Roy should receive interim protection from arrest; he had already secured anticipatory bail in the linked cash-for-jobs case.
West Bengal government
Roy's custodial interrogation is necessary for the investigation, so interim relief was strongly opposed.
Timing of the case
Roy's defence
The FIR in the present matter was registered only after the new government assumed office.
West Bengal government
The alleged offence was committed several years ago, yet no action was taken by the previous government.
Key facts
- Accused
- Sumit Roy, Personal Assistant to Abhishek Banerjee
- Allegation
- Grabbing and selling government-vested land in Salboni, West Midnapore, using fake documents
- Charges
- Cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, criminal conspiracy
- Supreme Court Order (Aug 6)
- Arrest stayed; Roy must cooperate with the investigation, remain available 10:00 am–6:00 pm, and not be accompanied by any advocate or other person
- Earlier Court Order (Aug 3)
- Single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh rejected anticipatory bail in the land case; granted conditional bail in the cash-for-jobs case with a 10-day deadline to appear before investigators
- Investigating Bodies
- Salboni Police; CID of West Bengal Police issued a lookout notice in June
- Police Raid (Jun 13)
- Salboni police and central forces searched Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence after Roy's phone's last tower location was traced there; Roy was not found
- Lawyers
- Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan for Roy; Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the West Bengal government
Quotes
Supreme Court bench
Justices of the Supreme Court of India
“The petitioner should fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. He should not be accompanied by any advocate or any other person. He shall remain available for any investigation from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with the usual breaks. However, his arrest will remain stayed.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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