Supreme Court Allows Bengal Government to File Report on Questioning of Abhishek Banerjee's PA in Land-Grab Probe

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the West Bengal government to submit a detailed investigation report in a sealed cover concerning the questioning of Sumit Roy, personal secretary to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee, in the alleged Salboni land-grab case.

The development comes as the apex court considers Roy's challenge to a Calcutta High Court order that had rejected his plea for pre-arrest bail in the case.

Supreme Court Permits Sealed Investigation Report

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices J Joymalya Bagchi and J V Mohana, heard the matter on Monday.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the West Bengal government, sought permission to place a detailed interrogation report before the court in a sealed cover.

The state government has maintained that Roy was not fully cooperating with investigators during questioning. The Solicitor General told the bench that Roy had been questioned in detail, including on issues relating to large cash deposits, and that the investigators had an interrogation transcript.

The court permitted the state to submit the report for its consideration.

Roy's Protection From Arrest Extended

The Supreme Court also extended the protection from arrest granted to Sumit Roy until the next date of hearing.

The matter relates to Roy's appeal against the Calcutta High Court's refusal to grant him anticipatory bail in the Salboni case.

The apex court had earlier intervened in the matter and asked the West Bengal government to produce records connected with Roy's interrogation.

What Is the Salboni Land-Grab Case?

The case relates to allegations of land fraud in Salboni, West Bengal, and involves criminal allegations including cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.

The allegations are being investigated by the state police.

The Calcutta High Court had rejected Roy's anticipatory bail plea on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently considered his challenge and continued his protection from arrest while examining the circumstances surrounding the investigation.

State Says Roy Was Not Cooperating

During Monday's hearing, the West Bengal government argued that Roy had remained "elusive" during detailed questioning.

The Solicitor General said investigators had questioned him about issues including large cash deposits and that a transcript of the interrogation was available.

The state sought to keep the report confidential at this stage, arguing that details of an ongoing investigation could not be disclosed to the accused.

The Supreme Court accepted the request and allowed the report to be submitted in a sealed cover.

Roy's Counsel Disputes the Allegations

Roy's legal team has disputed the state's characterisation of his cooperation with investigators.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan had previously stated that the entire interrogation was videographed and that Roy answered the questions put to him.

His counsel also clarified an earlier submission concerning the right against self-incrimination, stating that Roy had not invoked that right and had cooperated with the investigation.

The defence has alleged that investigators focused substantially on Roy's family and questions concerning the functioning, recruitment and funding of the TMC rather than limiting the questioning to the alleged offence under investigation.

August 31 Order and Earlier Proceedings

The Supreme Court had on August 31 directed the West Bengal government to produce records relating to Roy's interrogation.

The direction followed arguments over the nature and extent of Roy's cooperation with the investigating authorities.

The court subsequently considered the state's request to place a detailed report before the bench so that it could assess the competing claims made by the investigating agency and Roy's legal team.

Political Significance

The case has attracted political attention because Roy is associated with Abhishek Banerjee, a prominent TMC leader and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Any further developments in the investigation are therefore likely to be closely watched in the state's political circles.

However, the Supreme Court's latest order is primarily procedural: it allows the state government to place its detailed investigation material before the bench while continuing Roy's interim protection from arrest.

What Happens Next?

The next stage of the proceedings will depend on the Supreme Court's examination of the sealed investigation report and the submissions from both sides.

The court will have to consider the state's claim regarding Roy's cooperation with the investigation alongside the defence's contention that he has cooperated and that the questioning went beyond the alleged land-grab offence.

For now, Sumit Roy remains protected from arrest, while the West Bengal government has been permitted to submit its detailed interrogation report to the Supreme Court.

The case is expected to come up again after the court examines the material placed before it.