The Supreme Court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to Sumit Roy, PA to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, in the Salboni land grab case, citing the need for custodial interrogation.

  • SC rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Sumit Roy.
  • Allegations involve suspected transactions totaling ₹15 crore.
  • Court upheld the necessity of custodial interrogation for a thorough probe.

NEW DELHI: In a significant legal setback, the Supreme Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) refused to grant anticipatory bail to Sumit Roy, the personal assistant (PA) to TMC heavyweight Abhishek Banerjee. The case pertains to the controversial Salboni land grab investigation, which has drawn intense scrutiny in West Bengal.

A three-judge Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant, declined to interfere with a prior order from the Calcutta High Court delivered in August, which had already denied Mr. Roy pre-arrest relief. The apex court's decision reinforces the lower court's stance on the necessity of a rigorous investigation.

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Representing the West Bengal government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that Mr. Roy's responses during previous interrogations were "evasive." Mr. Mehta further alleged that the investigation has uncovered multiple transactions amounting to approximately ₹15 crore deposited by Mr. Roy, making custodial interrogation an indispensable part of the probe.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the court's refusal to grant bail suggests a high level of confidence in the evidence presented by the prosecution. By prioritizing custodial interrogation over personal liberty in this instance, the judiciary is signaling that the financial trail in the Salboni case could potentially lead to deeper political implications beyond the PA's office.

"The denial of anticipatory bail in high-stakes financial crimes often indicates that the court believes the suspect's presence in custody is vital to prevent the destruction of evidence."

Conversely, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Mr. Roy, contended that there is not a single shred of evidence linking his client to the alleged crime. He submitted that Mr. Roy had already undergone nearly 88 hours of questioning without being confronted with any documents or witnesses that directly implicate him in the transactions.

The defense argued that the investigating agency is attempting to erroneously link the official banking transactions of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with the personal account of Mr. Roy. Furthermore, the defense pointed out that other co-accused individuals had already denied Mr. Roy's involvement during their statements. However, these arguments failed to convince the bench.

The case is registered under several severe penal provisions, including cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy. With the denial of bail, Mr. Roy now faces imminent arrest.

Did You Know?: Anticipatory bail is a legal mechanism in India that allows a person to seek bail in anticipation of an arrest for a non-bailable offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the specific charges against Sumit Roy?
He is accused of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy in connection with the Salboni land grab case, involving alleged transactions of ₹15 crore.

2. Why did the Supreme Court refuse the bail plea?
The court agreed with the Solicitor General that the accused's answers were evasive and that custodial interrogation was essential for the investigation.