Supreme Court Intervenes in Salboni Land Case
The Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted the arrest of Sumit Roy, who serves as the personal assistant to Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). This development comes as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal acquisition of government land in Salboni, located in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district.
Judicial Bench and Interim Order
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued an interim order that prevents Roy’s arrest. The order also obligates Roy to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. The Court stated, “Petitioner (Sumit Roy) shall cooperate with the investigation. His arrest shall remain stayed.”
Background of the Case
The legal proceedings stem from allegations that government land in Salboni was illicitly acquired and fraudulently transferred. Sumit Roy has been named as an accused in this matter. In June, an arrest warrant was issued by a Midnapore court after repeated efforts to locate Roy were unsuccessful. A raid conducted at Abhishek Banerjee’s residence in Kolkata also failed to result in his capture.
Calcutta High Court’s Previous Ruling
Earlier this week, the Calcutta High Court denied Roy’s anticipatory bail plea, emphasizing the potential necessity for custodial interrogation at this stage of the investigation. This denial led Roy to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
Representations and Legal Arguments
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Roy, assured the Supreme Court of Roy’s willingness to participate in the investigation, stating, “The petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation.” The West Bengal government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, opposed the plea, arguing the need for Roy’s custodial interrogation. However, the Bench questioned the necessity of this approach given the assurance of cooperation.
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Contention and Court’s Decision
Chief Justice Kant expressed concerns regarding the insistence on custodial interrogation, remarking, “I hope you are not saying the police is the problem.” In response, SG Mehta claimed that attempts to arrest Roy had been obstructed, alleging interference by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Despite these contentions, the Supreme Court decided to stay Roy’s arrest while ensuring his cooperation with the investigative process.
