Kolkata, 07 August (H.S.) : Sumit Roy, a close aide of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, on Friday once again approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection from arrest in multiple criminal cases, a day after the Supreme Court granted him interim protection from arrest in the Shalboni land scam case.

However, the High Court declined to entertain his plea for an urgent hearing, observing that no exceptional circumstances existed to justify immediate judicial intervention.

Roy had earlier secured anticipatory bail from the Calcutta High Court in the alleged teacher recruitment corruption case. After being denied anticipatory bail in the Shalboni land scam case, he approached the Supreme Court, which on Thursday granted him interim protection from arrest.

According to submissions made before the High Court, apart from the Shalboni land scam and the teacher recruitment case, Roy is also facing four other FIRs. Apprehending arrest in those cases, he sought fresh protection from the High Court.

The matter was mentioned before the bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharyya, with Roy requesting an urgent hearing. The judge, however, declined the request, stating that there was no immediate urgency warranting an out-of-turn hearing and that the petition would be taken up in the normal course as per the court's roster.

While granting interim protection in the Shalboni land scam case, the Supreme Court imposed several conditions on Roy. The apex court directed him to appear before the investigating agency whenever required and to extend full cooperation with the investigation. It also permitted him to be accompanied by a lawyer during questioning. The investigating agency has been allowed to summon him for interrogation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., during which he will remain protected from arrest under the interim order.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh