Bengal: SIM cards in others' names used by Abhishek Banerjee aide, police probe
Synopsis
West Bengal Police have uncovered that Sumit Roy, executive assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, allegedly used SIM cards registered in the names of over five to seven Kalighat residents for financial transactions — a detail revealed in court as Roy secured only two more days of custody instead of the four the prosecution sought.
Key Takeaways
Sumit Roy , executive assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee , allegedly used multiple SIM cards registered in other people's names for financial transactions.
All registered SIM subscribers are reportedly residents of Kalighat , south Kolkata — the same area where Abhishek Banerjee resides.
Police suspect substantial funds may have been routed through UPI via these SIM cards, though no specific evidence has been confirmed yet.
The Midnapore Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court granted two more days of police custody on Saturday , against the prosecution's request for four days.
Roy faces allegations in both the Salboni land-grabbing case and alleged corruption in the sand business in West Midnapore.
Notices have been issued to all registered SIM subscribers; investigators are determining whether identities were used without their knowledge.
West Bengal Police investigating the land-grabbing case involving Sumit Roy, executive assistant to Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee, suspect that Roy allegedly used multiple SIM cards registered in the names of other individuals to carry out financial transactions. The development emerged on 3 October 2026 as Roy was produced before the Midnapore Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court following nine days of police custody.
The SIM Card Trail
According to investigators, Roy allegedly operated several SIM cards — none of which were purchased in his own name — in the same mobile handset. One number was reportedly used on a permanent basis, while a second SIM card was changed frequently. Police say the registered subscribers of all the SIM cards are residents of the Kalighat area in south Kolkata, the same locality where Abhishek Banerjee also resides.
Investigators suspect that substantial sums of money may have been transacted through UPI using these SIM cards, though no specific transactional evidence has been established so far.
Court Proceedings and Prosecution's Stand
After nine days in custody, Roy was produced before the Midnapore Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court on Saturday. The defence counsel sought bail, but the state opposed the application. Public Prosecutor and Additional Public Prosecutor Syed Nazim Habib informed the court that call records from Roy's handset had been examined, revealing the use of multiple SIM cards registered to other individuals.
'Information regarding SIM cards issued in the names of more than five to seven persons has been found. Whether Sumit used those SIM cards with their permission, or whether they were unaware of it, is now being investigated. To clarify the matter, those SIM subscribers are being summoned. The police have sent notices to all of them,' Habib said outside the court.
The prosecution requested four more days of custodial interrogation to complete inquiries. The court granted two additional days of police custody.
Kalighat Residents Under the Scanner
The individuals in whose names the SIM cards were obtained are now under the scanner of the investigation. Notices have been served on them, and investigators are working to determine whether the registered owners were aware their personal details had been used or whether the SIM cards were procured illegally. This is a critical angle — if documents were misused without the owners' knowledge, it could indicate a broader identity fraud angle to the case.
Wider Allegations Against Roy
Beyond the Salboni land-grabbing case, Roy has also been implicated in alleged irregularities and corruption linked to the sand business in West Midnapore district. The original complaint was filed by a businessman from the Salboni Police Station area. On Saturday, police from Salboni Police Station re-took Roy into custody after his nine-day remand period ended.
This comes amid broader scrutiny of individuals in the proximity of senior TMC leadership, and the case has drawn attention to alleged financial networks operating through proxies in the party's stronghold areas of south Kolkata. With custodial interrogation extended and SIM card subscribers being summoned, investigators are expected to map the full extent of Roy's alleged financial network in the coming days.
Point of View
Not mere opportunism. The geographic detail is striking: all registered subscribers reportedly live in Kalighat, the political heartland of Abhishek Banerjee, raising questions about whether these were willing proxies or unknowing victims of identity misuse. The court granting only two of the four days requested by the prosecution suggests the judiciary is watching the pace of this investigation closely.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sumit Roy and why was he arrested?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. He was arrested in connection with a land-grabbing case registered at Salboni Police Station in West Midnapore, and has also been implicated in alleged irregularities linked to the sand business in the district.
What is the SIM card allegation against Sumit Roy?
Police allege that Roy used multiple SIM cards registered in the names of other individuals — not his own — in the same mobile handset for financial transactions. Investigators suspect UPI payments of substantial amounts may have been made through these SIM cards, though no specific transactional evidence has been confirmed so far.
Why are Kalighat residents being summoned by police?
The SIM cards allegedly used by Roy were registered to residents of the Kalighat area in south Kolkata. Police are summoning these individuals to determine whether they were aware their details were being used or whether the SIM cards were obtained illegally using their personal information without their knowledge.
What did the court decide in Sumit Roy's case?
The Midnapore Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court granted two additional days of police custody to Roy on Saturday, after he completed nine days in custody. The prosecution had sought four days; the court granted two. Roy's counsel had sought bail, which the state successfully opposed.
What is Abhishek Banerjee's connection to this case?
Abhishek Banerjee is a Trinamool Congress MP and the employer of the arrested accused, Sumit Roy, who served as his executive assistant. Banerjee has not been named as an accused in the case. Notably, all the SIM card subscribers under investigation reportedly reside in Kalighat, where Banerjee also lives.
