Calcutta HC rejects anticipatory bail of Abhishek Banerjee aide Sumit Roy
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has refused anticipatory bail to Sumit Roy, the absconding aide of TMC strongman Abhishek Banerjee, in a corruption and land-grabbing case where police have already found fake seals, stamps, and links to an arrested former legislator. The court has also ordered Roy to disclose his financial transactions by 29 June — tightening the legal noose around a case that has already led to a raid on Abhishek Banerjee's own Kalighat residence.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 25 June rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Sumit Roy , executive assistant to TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee .
Roy is accused of corruption and illegal land grabbing ; an arrest warrant and lookout notice are already in force.
The court directed Roy to submit details of his financial transactions and bank accounts via affidavit by 29 June .
State police must also file a detailed case report and case diary before the court by 29 June .
Police investigations have reportedly uncovered fake seals and stamps and established links between Roy and arrested former TMC legislator Sujoy Hazra .
A joint police-CAPF team had earlier raided the Kalighat residence of Abhishek Banerjee in search of Roy.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 25 June rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Sumit Roy, the absconding executive assistant to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee. A single-judge bench, after hearing detailed arguments from both sides, declined to grant Roy pre-arrest protection in a case involving allegations of corruption and illegal land grabbing.
Court's Directions
Alongside rejecting the bail plea, the bench issued two significant directions. Roy has been ordered to submit details of his financial transactions and bank accounts by way of an affidavit before the court by 29 June. The West Bengal state police have also been directed to place a detailed case report, along with the case diary, before the bench within the same deadline.
Background: Raids and Warrants
An arrest warrant and a lookout notice had already been issued against Roy before Thursday's hearing. Earlier this month, a joint team comprising personnel from Salboni Police Station under West Midnapore district police, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and Kolkata Police conducted an early-morning raid at the Kalighat residence of Abhishek Banerjee — the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — in south Kolkata, specifically in search of Roy. Despite remaining incommunicado for an extended period, Roy's legal counsel approached the same bench with an anticipatory bail petition earlier in June.
Arguments Before the Court
Roy's counsel contended that his client was merely an employee in the TMC General Secretary's office, arguing: 'Why would he be held responsible if any land sale documents were found in that party office?' The defence sought to distance Roy from any direct culpability in the alleged offences.
The state government's counsel, however, countered that police investigations had uncovered fake seals and stamps. Investigators also reportedly established close links between Roy and former TMC legislator Sujoy Hazra, who has already been arrested in connection with the same illegal land-grabbing case. The bench, after considering both sets of arguments, rejected the anticipatory bail application.
Wider Context
This comes amid sustained scrutiny of individuals connected to senior TMC leadership in West Bengal. The Kalighat raid — targeting the home of Abhishek Banerjee, one of the party's most prominent figures — marked a notable escalation in the investigation. The discovery of alleged fake seals and stamps, and the established link to an already-arrested former legislator, suggests investigators are building a wider corruption network case. Roy's compliance with the court's affidavit deadline on 29 June will be closely watched as the next procedural milestone.
Point of View
And Roy's alleged proximity to an already-arrested former TMC legislator, suggests investigators see this as a structured corruption network, not an isolated incident. What mainstream coverage underplays is the significance of the Kalighat raid: searching the home of a sitting Lok Sabha member and senior party general secretary is an unusual step, and the fact that Roy has not surfaced despite an arrest warrant raises questions about the state police's own urgency. The 29 June deadline will test whether the investigation gains momentum or stalls in procedural paperwork.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court reject Sumit Roy's anticipatory bail?
The court rejected the plea after the state government's counsel presented evidence of fake seals and stamps uncovered by police, and established Roy's close links to former TMC legislator Sujoy Hazra, who is already arrested in the same land-grabbing case. The bench found sufficient grounds to deny pre-arrest protection.
Who is Sumit Roy and what is he accused of?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant to TMC General Secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee. He is accused of corruption and illegal land grabbing, and has been absconding, prompting the issuance of both an arrest warrant and a lookout notice against him.
What are the court's next deadlines in this case?
Roy has been directed to submit an affidavit detailing his financial transactions and bank accounts by 29 June. The West Bengal state police must also submit a detailed case report and case diary to the court by the same date.
What was the significance of the Kalighat raid?
A joint team of Salboni Police Station personnel, CAPF forces, and Kolkata Police conducted an early-morning raid at the Kalighat residence of Abhishek Banerjee — the nephew of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — specifically in search of the absconding Roy. The raid underscored the seriousness of the investigation into Roy's alleged activities.
Who is Sujoy Hazra and how is he connected to this case?
Sujoy Hazra is a former TMC legislator who has already been arrested in the same illegal land-grabbing case. According to the state government's counsel, police investigations have established close connections between Roy and Hazra, strengthening the case against Roy.
