Land grab probe: In Supreme Court, West Bengal pushes for custodial interrogation of PA Abhishek Banerjee

File picture of Sumit Roy, personal assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. | Photo credit: PTI

The West Bengal government on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) moved the Supreme Court to question Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee’s personal assistant Sumit Roy in connection with the huge cash deposits he allegedly made in the Salboni land grab case.

Appearing for the West Bengal government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and said Mr. Roy’s answers to specific questions had so far been evasive. Mr. Mehta submitted transcripts of the interrogation to support his claims.

The court is hearing Mr. Roy’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court’s decision denying anticipatory bail. A case has been registered under criminal provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.

In an earlier hearing, the apex court ordered the state to produce relevant records of specific questions asked of Mr Roy about the alleged bank transactions. It also extended his provisional protection from arrest.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for Mr. Roy, said there were reports that a charge sheet had been filed in the case.

Mr. Mehta said that the chargesheet was filed against another accused with a specific provision that the investigation regarding Mr. Roy was still going on and that he was required for questioning. Mr. Mehta alleged that Mr. Roy deposited around ₹ 15 crore in several transactions.

Mr. Sankararnarayanan said it could be the party funds he was ordered to deposit in the bank. “A person who is supposed to be a PA is depositing crores of rupees in his name,” the top lawyer said.

Published – 09 Sep 2026 17:19 IST