Sumit Roy, personal assistant to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee, appeared at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office of the West Bengal Police in South Kolkata on Sunday, 9 August for a second consecutive day of questioning in an alleged illegal land-grabbing case linked to West Midnapore district.

Second Consecutive Day of Interrogation

Roy arrived at the CID office at around 10 a.m. on Sunday, mirroring his appearance the previous day. On Saturday, he had reached the same office at approximately 10 a.m. and was interrogated for over 11 hours. After leaving the CID premises on Saturday night, Roy reportedly visited Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, South Kolkata. By the time reports were filed on Sunday, his interrogation had already commenced.

Four FIRs and a Long Spell of Absconding

A total of four First Information Reports (FIRs) are currently registered against Roy, including the one pertaining to illegal land-grabbing. He had been absconding for an extended period, evading police despite multiple cases against him. During that time, Roy approached both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India seeking interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest.

Last week, the Supreme Court granted him interim protection specifically in the illegal land-grabbing case. Armed with that order, Roy finally presented himself before the CID on Saturday — his first appearance since the cases were registered.

The Land-Grabbing Allegations

Roy stands accused of allegedly grabbing and selling government-vested land in Salboni, West Midnapore district, using forged documents. Following a formal complaint, police registered an FIR and initiated an investigation. When Roy could not be traced at his known addresses, a local court issued an arrest warrant against him. The CID had also issued a lookout notice in his name.

Searches at High-Profile Addresses

In June, police teams conducted searches at Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence in Kolkata and at Roy's in-laws' home in Serampore, but he was not found at either location. The raids at a sitting Lok Sabha member's residence underscored the political sensitivity surrounding the case. Notably, this is not the first time associates of senior TMC leaders have faced scrutiny from West Bengal's own investigative agencies.

What Happens Next

With the Supreme Court's interim protection in place, Roy's continued appearance before the CID marks a shift from months of evasion to formal cooperation — at least in the land-grabbing matter. The outcome of the ongoing interrogation and the status of the remaining three FIRs will determine whether Roy faces further legal proceedings or seeks additional judicial relief.