Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Ex-MLA, Abhishek Banerjee Aide Charged in Salboni Land Case
Investigators in West Bengal are examining an alleged illegal land-selling case in Salboni.
They filed a chargesheet, which is a formal document describing accusations.
Former legislator Sujoy Hazra and Sumit Roy, an aide to Abhishek Banerjee, are central to the investigation.
Investigators say some land papers were forged.
They also say rubber stamps belonging to land officials were found with Hazra.
The chargesheet says Roy deposited Rs 7 crore into a bank between 2018 and 2021.
Two alleged land brokers said Hazra gave much of the collected money to Roy.
Roy was arrested and investigators searched for older mobile phones they believe could contain evidence.
The report separately lists four accused people, but that list does not include Roy, creating a discrepancy in its description of the chargesheet.
The West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department filed its first chargesheet in the Salboni land case.
Investigators allege forged documents and say rubber stamps of land-revenue officials were found with Sujoy Hazra.
The chargesheet says Sumit Roy deposited Rs 7 crore between 2018 and 2021.
Land brokers allegedly told investigators that Hazra passed much of the collected money to Roy.
The report describes Roy as involved in the chargesheet case but lists four accused without naming him.
- Who
- The Criminal Investigation Department, former MLA Sujoy Hazra, Sumit Roy, alleged land brokers and other named accused and witnesses.
- What
- The CID filed its first chargesheet in an alleged government-land fraud involving forged documents, alleged illegal sales and suspected money transfers.
- When
- The chargesheet was submitted earlier this month; Roy was arrested on September 10, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene on Thursday.
- Where
- The case concerns Salboni, with the chargesheet submitted at the Midnapore court in West Bengal.
- Why
- The CID is investigating alleged illegal sales of government land, document forgery and the money trail from the transactions.
- Investigating agency
- West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department
- Case location
- Salboni, West Bengal
- Chargesheet venue
- Midnapore court
- Reported cash deposit
- Rs 7 crore deposited by Sumit Roy between 2018 and 2021
- Alleged evidence
- Forged documents and rubber stamps of land-revenue officials
- Named accused listed in report
- Sujoy Hazra, Anitesh Paira, Kailash Agarwal and Sarfuddin Khan
- Witnesses
- The CID named 20 witnesses, including businessmen, local leaders, drivers and land brokers
- Relevant legal allegations
- Cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, using forged documents and criminal conspiracy