Bengal soil theft case: Abhishek Banerjee aide gets 10-day police custody
Synopsis
Sumit Roy, executive assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, has been sent to 10-day police custody in a ₹400 crore soil theft case — his second active criminal matter. Investigators say they are hunting for 'more influential beneficiaries,' raising questions about how far up the political chain the alleged corruption network extends.
Key Takeaways
Sumit Roy , aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee , was remanded to 10 days of police custody on 31 October by a Kolkata court.
Roy is accused in a soil theft case worth ₹400 crore , registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under Diamond Harbour district.
He was formally shown as arrested by Diamond Harbour District Police on 28 October in the soil theft matter.
Roy was already serving judicial custody since 10 September in a separate illegal land-grabbing case at Salboni, West Midnapore .
Investigators say they are probing the 'deep-rooted corruption cycle' and seeking to identify more influential beneficiaries in the alleged scam.
Sumit Roy, the executive assistant of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee from the Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, was on Saturday, 31 October remanded to 10 days of police custody by a lower court in Kolkata in connection with a soil theft case allegedly worth ₹400 crore. The order marks a significant escalation in the legal troubles surrounding Roy, who is already facing a separate illegal land-grabbing case.
Background: Two Cases, One Accused
Roy was first arrested on 10 September by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police in connection with a multi-crore illegal land-grabbing case at Salboni in West Midnapore district. He had been serving judicial custody in that matter when the Diamond Harbour District Police formally showed him as arrested on 28 October in the separate soil theft case registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station.
The Salboni land-grabbing probe had initially led to the arrest of former TMC legislator Sujay Hazra. During the investigation of Hazra, Roy's name surfaced, and the CID subsequently arrested him after questioning him multiple times. According to the chargesheet filed by the CID, the investigating agency detailed how money from the Salboni land-grabbing case allegedly reached Roy's office.
What Investigators Are Looking For
A Diamond Harbour district police official stated that the custody is necessary to conduct what was described as 'marathon questioning' of Roy. According to the official, investigators are seeking to identify 'other and rather more influential beneficiaries' in the alleged scam and to trace the sources of financial transactions involved.
'There is a necessity for marathon questioning of Roy in the soil theft case and to know about the other and rather more influential beneficiaries in the alleged scam. That is why he was shown as arrested earlier this week. Now attempts are on to find how deep-rooted this corruption cycle is and what the sources of financial transactions in the matter are,' the official said.
Court Proceedings
Roy was produced before a lower court in Kolkata on Saturday in connection with the soil theft matter. After hearing arguments, the district court judge remanded him to 10 days of police custody, granting investigators the time they sought for sustained questioning. The remand period is expected to be a critical window for the probe.
Broader Implications
This is the second major case in which Roy, a close aide of Abhishek Banerjee — who is widely regarded as a key figure within the TMC and the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — has been named as an accused. The dual cases have intensified scrutiny on the political and financial networks allegedly connected to the ruling party in the state. Opposition parties have cited the cases as evidence of systemic corruption, while the TMC has not yet issued a formal response to the latest custody order.
Point of View
A CID chargesheet that reportedly traces money flows to Roy's office, and investigators explicitly signalling they are hunting for 'more influential beneficiaries,' the political exposure risk is climbing. The critical question mainstream coverage underplays is whether the dual-case strategy by different police units reflects genuine investigative momentum or jurisdictional fragmentation that could complicate prosecution. Either way, the proximity of Roy to Abhishek Banerjee means the political fallout will be difficult to contain regardless of eventual legal outcomes.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sumit Roy and why was he arrested?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant of TMC Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee from the Diamond Harbour constituency. He was first arrested on 10 September by the West Bengal CID in connection with an illegal land-grabbing case at Salboni, and was subsequently shown as arrested on 28 October in a separate ₹400 crore soil theft case.
What is the ₹400 crore soil theft case in West Bengal?
The soil theft case is registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under Diamond Harbour district, in which Sumit Roy has been accused of involvement in soil theft allegedly worth ₹400 crore. Diamond Harbour District Police formally arrested him in this case on 28 October.
What did the Kolkata court order on 31 October?
A lower court in Kolkata remanded Sumit Roy to 10 days of police custody on 31 October in connection with the soil theft case. The custody allows investigators to conduct sustained questioning and trace financial transactions linked to the alleged scam.
What is the Salboni land-grabbing case and how is Roy connected?
The Salboni illegal land-grabbing case in West Midnapore district first led to the arrest of former TMC legislator Sujay Hazra. During that investigation, Roy's name surfaced, and the CID arrested him on 10 September. The CID chargesheet reportedly details how money from the Salboni case allegedly reached Roy's office.
Is Abhishek Banerjee directly accused in either case?
Based on available information, Abhishek Banerjee has not been named as an accused in either the soil theft or the Salboni land-grabbing case. Investigators have, however, indicated they are seeking to identify more influential beneficiaries beyond Roy in the alleged corruption network.
