New Delhi, 19 August (H.S.): The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to conduct custodial interrogation of Sumit Roy, a personal aide to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, in connection with a land-grabbing case. The state government has alleged that Roy is not cooperating with the investigation and has been evading questions. Hearing the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said it would consider the case after examining the police report submitted in a sealed cover.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the West Bengal government, alleged that Roy was not cooperating with the investigation into the alleged land-grabbing case in Salboni. He submitted that the police needed to interrogate Roy in custody, alleging that he was not answering questions and was maintaining silence.

Appearing for Sumit Roy, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that his client had been appearing before the police in accordance with the court's directions and that he had a constitutional right to remain silent.

Mehta also submitted material collected by the police during the investigation so far in a sealed cover before the court. The Chief Justice then observed that the bench would take up the matter after examining the sealed police report.

Earlier, on August 6, the Supreme Court had stayed Roy's arrest and directed him to join the investigation and cooperate with the authorities. The Calcutta High Court had, the previous week, refused to grant him anticipatory bail, observing that at this stage of the investigation, the possibility of custodial interrogation could not be ruled out.

The Salboni case relates to alleged irregularities and a purported scam involving around 300 acres of government land in West Midnapore district.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar