Abhishek Banerjee’s PA Sumit Roy appears before CID after nearly 2 months
New Delhi: After remaining out of public view for nearly two months, Sumit Roy, reportedly an aide to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday morning.
The development came a day after CID officials visited Roy’s residence and served him a fresh notice. Roy reached the CID office at around 9:55 am, shortly before the scheduled reporting time.
Despite staying away from the investigation, Roy had been pursuing legal remedies in connection with the cases against him. He approached the Calcutta High Court for anticipatory bail and later moved the Supreme Court citing apprehension of arrest.
Multiple cases against Roy
Roy has been named in several cases involving alleged irregularities related to land and recruitment. Four cases have reportedly been registered against him in Diamond Harbour, including allegations concerning soil theft and the Sebashraya programme.
His name had first emerged in connection with an alleged land-related irregularity in Salboni, West Midnapore. Subsequently, police had also conducted a search at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence. Roy is also facing an alleged job fraud case in Debra.
High Court granted bail in one case
Roy had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking anticipatory bail. While the court rejected his plea in one case, it granted him anticipatory bail in another.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh observed in one matter that, based on statements and information obtained from arrested accused persons, the court did not find it appropriate to grant anticipatory bail in that particular case.
Supreme Court relief led to CID appearance
Roy subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which granted him interim protection from arrest and directed him to appear before investigators and cooperate with the probe.
The Supreme Court also permitted him to be accompanied by a lawyer during questioning. Investigators can question him between 10 am and 6 pm, but he cannot be arrested under the protection granted by the court.
Following these directions, Roy appeared at the CID office on Saturday morning to face questioning.