TMC MP's aide Sumit Roy questioned by CID for second day in land fraud case

Kolkata: Sumit Roy, a close aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee, appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Bhabani Bhaban in Kolkata on Sunday for the second consecutive day of questioning in connection with an alleged government land fraud case in Paschim Medinipur district, officials said.

Roy, who had remained untraced for weeks, first appeared before the CID on Saturday following an order from the Supreme Court. He was quizzed for approximately 10 hours on Saturday in connection with the Salboni land fraud case. On Sunday, he arrived at the CID headquarters at 10 a.m. for further questioning.

The Supreme Court has granted Roy interim protection from arrest until August 14, subject to his cooperation with the investigation. The apex court directed him to cooperate with the probe and remain available for questioning between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. whenever required. It also specified that no lawyer or any other person could accompany him during the interrogation.

Roy had moved the Supreme Court after the Calcutta High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail in the land grabbing case being investigated by the Salboni Police. His arrest was stayed by the Supreme Court on August 6.

The CID had been searching for Roy following the arrest of former TMC MLA Sujoy Hazra in connection with the Salboni land fraud case. Police had also searched the residence of Abhishek Banerjee, the MP from Diamond Harbour, in June while looking for Roy, but he was not found there.

In a separate case related to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam, Roy has already received anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court.

The CID's questioning of Roy is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the allocation of government land in Salboni. Further details are awaited as the probe continues.