Calcutta HC shields Abhishek Banerjee aide Sumit Roy from arrest till July 21
Synopsis
A Calcutta High Court verbal order is all that stands between Sumit Roy — executive assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee — and arrest. Accused of selling over 50 acres of government land using forged documents and running a job-for-money racket in West Midnapore, Roy's case has already pulled police searches to Banerjee's own Kalighat residence, making this far more than a routine bail matter.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court granted Sumit Roy , aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee , temporary protection from arrest on 17 July 2025 .
Protection runs until 21 July 2025 ; the next hearing is scheduled for Monday, 21 July .
Roy is accused of selling more than 50 acres of government land in Salbani, West Midnapore using forged documents.
He is also linked to alleged job-for-money promises in Debra, West Midnapore ; multiple FIRs have been filed.
Police have searched Abhishek Banerjee's residence in Kalighat, Kolkata ; a lookout notice has been issued against Roy.
The case was adjourned Thursday due to the Rath Yatra holiday; the verbal order was issued despite no full hearing.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 17 July 2025, granted temporary protection from coercive action to Sumit Roy, executive assistant to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee, until Tuesday, 22 July 2025. The verbal order, issued by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, bars investigators from arresting Roy or taking any stringent action against him pending the next hearing, now scheduled for Monday, 21 July.
Why the Hearing Was Postponed
The case was listed before Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on Thursday but could not be heard after state government lawyers were unable to attend owing to the Rath Yatra festival. Despite the absence of a full hearing, the court issued a verbal order extending Roy's interim protection, ensuring he cannot be arrested before the next date.
What Roy Is Accused Of
Roy faces multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) linked to two distinct sets of allegations. First, he is accused of selling more than 50 acres of government land in Salbani, West Midnapore, allegedly using forged documents and operating through brokers. Second, his name has surfaced in connection with alleged job-for-money promises in Debra, West Midnapore.
Police claim Roy prepared fake documents to facilitate the land transactions, with proceeds allegedly routed through him. Local residents, including panchayat leaders, have reportedly confirmed that land sales took place. Investigators have also alleged that Sujoy Hazra provided funds for the deals, which are said to have eventually reached Abhishek Banerjee's office on Camac Street, Kolkata.
Search Operations and Lookout Notice
Police have conducted searches across Kolkata, including at Banerjee's residence in Kalighat. A lookout notice has been issued against Roy, signalling that investigators consider him a flight risk. The searches indicate that the probe has extended well beyond West Midnapore into the state capital.
The Bench History and Earlier Orders
The matter has a fractured judicial history. Justice Joy Sengupta had earlier directed the state to produce the case diary on 25 June, but that hearing was delayed due to the judge's illness. The case was subsequently transferred across benches before Justice Ghosh took it up. Thursday marked the latest in a series of adjournments, though the court ensured Roy's interim relief remained intact through the verbal order.
What Happens Next
The next substantive hearing is set for Monday, 21 July, when state lawyers are expected to present their arguments and the case diary. The court's eventual ruling could determine whether Roy's protection is extended further or whether investigators are permitted to proceed with an arrest. The case is being closely watched as it has drawn Abhishek Banerjee's office directly into the allegations, raising the political temperature in West Bengal ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
But the surrounding facts are not. Police searches reaching Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat home — not just the accused's premises — signal that investigators believe the trail leads upward. The bench-hopping and repeated adjournments have, so far, worked in Roy's favour, buying time without a substantive hearing. West Bengal's land-scam cases have a pattern of stalling at the court stage while political pressure mounts; whether Justice Ghosh's bench breaks that pattern on 21 July will be the real test. With a lookout notice already in place, the court's next order carries consequences well beyond one executive assistant.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sumit Roy and why is he in court?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. He is accused of selling more than 50 acres of government land in Salbani, West Midnapore, using forged documents, and of promising jobs in exchange for money in Debra, West Midnapore. Multiple FIRs have been filed against him.
What did the Calcutta High Court order on 17 July 2025?
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh issued a verbal order granting Roy temporary protection from arrest and coercive action until 21 July 2025. The case was not fully heard on Thursday because state lawyers were absent due to the Rath Yatra; the next hearing is scheduled for Monday, 21 July.
Has Abhishek Banerjee been named in the case?
Banerjee has not been formally named as an accused in the FIRs based on available information. However, police have conducted searches at his Kalighat residence in Kolkata, and allegations suggest that funds from the land deals were routed to his Camac Street office.
What is the Salbani land fraud case about?
The Salbani case involves the alleged sale of more than 50 acres of government land in West Midnapore through forged documents and brokers. Police allege Roy prepared the fake paperwork, with money said to have been provided by Sujoy Hazra and ultimately linked to Banerjee's office.
What happens at the next hearing on 21 July?
State government lawyers are expected to present their arguments and the case diary before Justice Ghosh. The court will decide whether to extend Roy's interim protection or allow investigators to proceed with an arrest.
