Salboni Land Scam: Bengal CID Arrests Abhishek Banerjee’s PA After Supreme Court Denies Bail

KOLKATA — The West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Sumit Roy, the personal assistant to Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee, in connection with the alleged Salboni government land fraud case.

The detention comes just hours after the Supreme Court of India dismissed Roy’s anticipatory bail plea, removing the final legal barrier to his arrest.

Roy was taken into custody from a residence in the Kalighat area of Kolkata and subsequently transported to the CID headquarters at Bhabani Bhawan for intensive interrogation.

Following the questioning, he was produced before a court in Midnapore, the jurisdictional hub for the Salboni investigations.

The Core Allegations
The Salboni land scam centers on serious accusations that prime government land in the Jhargram district was illegally acquired and sold.

According to the state’s submissions to the Supreme Court, the proceeds from these illicit transactions were allegedly funneled directly into the accounts of the ruling political party.

Investigators have specifically linked Roy to suspicious financial trails, citing approximately ₹15 crore in cash deposits tied to his name during the period in question.

The CID alleges that these funds were part of a broader network designed to mask the illegal monetization of public assets.

A Tightening Legal Noose
The arrest marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle over Roy’s freedom. Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had rejected his bail application, citing the need for uninterrupted investigation into the alleged government land irregularities.

Roy’s legal team subsequently approached the Supreme Court, seeking protection from arrest. However, the apex court refused to grant relief, observing that the investigating agency had presented a prima facie case warranting custodial interrogation to uncover the full extent of the financial conspiracy.

Broader Political Implications
This development places renewed scrutiny on the inner circle of TMC leadership. Abhishek Banerjee, who serves as the party’s national general secretary, has previously faced investigations in unrelated matters, including the high-profile Bengal school job recruitment scam.

Political opponents have seized upon the arrest, framing it as evidence of systemic corruption within the state’s administrative machinery. Conversely, TMC supporters have characterized the timing of the CID’s actions as politically motivated, though the agency maintains that its operations are strictly evidence-driven and court-mandated.

What Lies Ahead
The CID has sought extended custodial remand to scrutinize digital devices, financial records, and property documents seized during recent raids.

Investigators are expected to probe whether other mid-level party functionaries or bureaucratic officials were complicit in the land-grabbing network.
As the judicial process moves forward, the Salboni case is poised to become a critical test of the state’s anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms. For now, Sumit Roy remains in judicial custody, and the investigation into the alleged ₹15 crore financial trail shows no signs of slowing down.