₹1.02 crore cash seized from Trinamool Congress office in Diamond Harbour
Synopsis
Over ₹1 crore in cash has been recovered from a Trinamool Congress party office in Diamond Harbour, West Bengal — the direct result of leads obtained while questioning Sumit Roy, executive assistant to TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee. With Roy already under arrest in multiple land-grabbing cases, the seizure deepens scrutiny of TMC's local networks.
Key Takeaways
₹1,02,79,000 in cash was seized from a Trinamool Congress party office at Sarisha , Diamond Harbour , on 4 November 2026 .
The raid was triggered by leads obtained during questioning of Sumit Roy , executive assistant to TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee .
Roy had been arrested earlier in a land-grabbing case in Salboni, West Midnapore , and was later detained in a separate land-theft case in Diamond Harbour .
Police confirmed the office belongs to the TMC but have not yet identified who was running it at the time of the seizure.
Investigators reportedly believe the cash may be linked to a soil-theft case at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station ; the probe is ongoing.
Police in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Wednesday, 4 November, recovered ₹1,02,79,000 in cash from an All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party office at Sarisha under the Diamond Harbour sub-division. The seizure followed the custodial questioning of Sumit Roy, the executive assistant to Abhishek Banerjee — the party's general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member.
How the Cash Was Found
According to Abhishek Majumdar, Additional Superintendent (Zonal) of Diamond Harbour Police, officers received specific leads pointing to the party office after interrogating Roy. 'After being taken into custody, Sumit Roy was questioned. Some specific clues were found from that questioning. Based on those clues, a search was conducted at a particular party office at Sarisha under Diamond Harbour Police district, and Rs 1,02,79,000 was recovered from there,' Majumdar told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
Who Is Sumit Roy
Roy was first arrested earlier this year in connection with an illegal land-grabbing case at Salboni in West Midnapore district. He subsequently faced accusations in a separate land-theft case in Diamond Harbour, following which local police took him into custody last week. He is currently held in a case registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station under the Diamond Harbour Police District.
Key Questions Still Unanswered
Police have not yet established who was formally in charge of the Sarisha party office at the time of the raid. Majumdar confirmed the premises belong to the Trinamool Congress but noted that investigators still need to verify who was running it. The source of the cash and the reason for its storage at the office also remain unclear. Investigators reportedly believe the money may be linked to the soil-theft case filed at Kalitala-Ashuti police station, though this has not been confirmed.
Broader Context
This is not an isolated incident — law-enforcement agencies have conducted a series of raids and arrests across West Bengal in recent months linked to alleged land-grabbing and illegal mining activity, several of which have implicated individuals with political connections. The recovery of unaccounted cash from a party office raises questions about financial oversight within the TMC's local apparatus, even as the party has yet to comment publicly on Wednesday's seizure. The timing is notable given that Abhishek Banerjee, whose office Roy served, is himself a central figure in the TMC hierarchy and a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Investigation Status
Diamond Harbour Police say the probe is ongoing. Authorities are working to trace the origin of the seized cash and determine whether additional individuals or locations are involved. Further arrests have not been ruled out, according to reports.
Point of View
The second-most powerful figure in the TMC. Whether or not Banerjee is personally implicated, the case illustrates a recurring pattern in West Bengal: alleged land and resource theft, unaccounted cash, and political party infrastructure appearing in the same frame. Investigators have yet to explain the chain of custody for this money, and the TMC's silence is conspicuous. The bigger question mainstream coverage is underplaying is institutional — if crores can sit in a party office undisclosed, it points to a failure of financial oversight that goes beyond any single accused.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cash was recovered from the Trinamool Congress office in Diamond Harbour?
Police recovered ₹1,02,79,000 in cash from a TMC party office at Sarisha under the Diamond Harbour sub-division of South 24 Parganas on 4 November. The seizure followed custodial questioning of Sumit Roy, an aide to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee.
Who is Sumit Roy and why was he arrested?
Sumit Roy is the executive assistant to Abhishek Banerjee, TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha MP. He was first arrested earlier this year in a land-grabbing case in Salboni, West Midnapore, and was subsequently detained in a separate land-theft case in Diamond Harbour.
Is Abhishek Banerjee directly implicated in the cash seizure?
No direct implication of Abhishek Banerjee has been established by police as of 4 November. The seized cash was found on leads from questioning his aide Sumit Roy, but investigators have not publicly named Banerjee as an accused in this case.
What do police believe is the source of the recovered cash?
Police reportedly believe the cash may be connected to the soil-theft case registered at Kalitala-Ashuti Police Station, but this has not been officially confirmed. The investigation to establish the origin and ownership of the money is still ongoing.
Who was running the Trinamool Congress office where the cash was found?
Police have confirmed the office at Sarisha belongs to the TMC but have not yet identified who was in charge of it at the time of the raid. Additional Superintendent Abhishek Majumdar said investigators are still working to verify that.
