Calcutta HC vacation bench declines Abhishek Banerjee aide's bail plea
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court's vacation bench declined to hear the bail plea of Sumit Roy — aide to TMC strongman Abhishek Banerjee — keeping him in custody through Kali Puja and Diwali. With a Supreme Court rejection already on record, a fresh ₹300 crore soil-theft case piling on, and Banerjee alleging police threats, the case has become a flashpoint in West Bengal's volatile politics.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court vacation bench, led by Justice Arindam Mukhopadhyay , declined on 6 November to hear the bail plea of Sumit Roy , executive assistant to Abhishek Banerjee .
The matter will be heard by a regular bench when the court reopens on 16 November 2026 , after the festival vacation.
Roy was arrested earlier this year in a land corruption case in Salboni, West Midnapore ; his anticipatory bail plea was previously rejected by the Supreme Court .
A separate ₹300 crore soil-theft case has been registered against Roy at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station , South 24 Parganas .
Abhishek Banerjee alleged on Thursday that Roy was being threatened with an encounter and pressured to give statements against him.
A single-judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday, 6 November 2026, declined to hear the anticipatory bail application filed by Sumit Roy, executive assistant to All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee. Justice Arindam Mukhopadhyay ruled that the matter would be placed before a regular bench when the court resumes functioning on 16 November, after the ongoing festival vacation.
Background: Arrest and Legal Journey
Sumit Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police earlier this year in connection with a land corruption case in Salboni, West Midnapore district, West Bengal. Before his arrest, Roy had approached the Supreme Court seeking anticipatory bail in the same case — a plea that was rejected. His subsequent arrest by the police followed that rejection. Roy then moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the legality of his arrest.
What Happened in Court on Friday
Justice Mukhopadhyay, presiding over the vacation bench, heard arguments from both sides but declined to adjudicate the matter. He stated that he would not comment on the case at this stage, and that it would be taken up by a regular bench after the court reopens on 16 November. The practical consequence is that Roy will remain in custody through the upcoming Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations.
Competing Arguments Before the Bench
Roy's counsel, former West Bengal Advocate General Kishore Dutta, argued in court that his client had been arrested in a five-year-old case for what he described as political reasons. The state government was represented by Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, who contended that since the investigation was in its early stages and fresh evidence was still emerging, granting bail could hamper the probe.
Second Case: ₹300 Crore Soil-Theft Allegation
Roy faces a separate legal front as well. A ₹300 crore soil-theft case has been registered against him at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under Diamond Harbour Police in South 24 Parganas district. He is reportedly in police custody in connection with this second matter. The dual cases have significantly complicated any near-term relief from the courts.
Abhishek Banerjee's Allegations
On Thursday, Abhishek Banerjee publicly alleged that Roy was being continuously threatened with an encounter and pressured by the police to give statements against him. The claim has not been independently verified, and the police have not issued a public response to the allegation. The case will next be heard when regular court proceedings resume on 16 November.
Point of View
Meaning Roy enters the regular bench hearing from a weakened procedural position. Abhishek Banerjee's encounter-threat allegation, unverified as it is, signals that TMC intends to frame this as political persecution — a familiar playbook in Bengal that the courts will need to insulate themselves from. With a second ₹300 crore soil-theft case now in the mix, the legal exposure has widened well beyond the original land corruption charge.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court refuse to hear Sumit Roy's bail plea?
The vacation bench, presided over by Justice Arindam Mukhopadhyay, declined to take up the matter because the court is in its festival recess. The bench directed that the case be placed before a regular bench when the court resumes on 16 November 2026.
Who is Sumit Roy and why was he arrested?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant to TMC General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with a land corruption case in Salboni, West Midnapore district, West Bengal, after the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail application.
What is the ₹300 crore soil-theft case against Sumit Roy?
A separate case alleging soil theft worth ₹300 crore has been registered against Roy at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under Diamond Harbour Police in South 24 Parganas district. Roy is currently in police custody in connection with this second case.
What did Abhishek Banerjee allege about Sumit Roy's treatment in custody?
On Thursday, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that Sumit Roy was being continuously threatened with an encounter and pressured by the police to give statements against him. The allegation has not been independently verified and the police have not publicly responded.
When will Sumit Roy's bail case next be heard?
The case is scheduled to be heard by a regular bench of the Calcutta High Court when it reopens after the festival vacation on 16 November 2026. Until then, Roy will remain in custody.
