Kolkata, 10 September (H.S.): The arrest of Sumit Roy, personal aide to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, by the West Bengal CID on Thursday triggered sharp reactions from senior BJP leaders, with Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh welcoming the development and demanding further action in the case.

Chief Minister and state Home Minister Suvendu Adhikari also reacted strongly to Roy’s arrest. Describing him as an alleged “collector” for Abhishek Banerjee, Adhikari said the CID had arrested Roy after the Supreme Court lifted the protection he had been granted against arrest.

Union Minister and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar said Roy’s arrest was expected after the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. He alleged that Roy had been handling several activities on behalf of Abhishek Banerjee and said the arrest could lead investigators closer to other individuals allegedly linked to the case.

“Once the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail, Sumit Roy’s arrest was only natural,” Majumdar said. Alleging that Roy had been involved in several activities on behalf of Abhishek Banerjee, he added, “There are several allegations of corruption against him. The ear has arrived, now the head will follow. The head is sitting at Camac Street.”

BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh also welcomed the arrest and said the party had been waiting for the CID to act after the Supreme Court’s protection was withdrawn.

“I was waiting for this. As soon as the Supreme Court lifted the protection, the CID arrested Sumit Roy,” Ghosh said. He further alleged that Roy’s arrest was only the beginning and demanded action against those whom he described as the principal figures behind the alleged activities.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who also holds the Home portfolio, described Roy in strong terms while commenting on the arrest. He alleged that Roy was a prominent “extortion collector” and claimed that he had been the “number one collector” for Abhishek Banerjee.

Roy was arrested by the CID from the residence of Abhishek Banerjee in Kalighat after the Supreme Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail. CID and Special Task Force personnel had intensified their efforts to locate him after the court’s order removed the protection from arrest.

The arrest is linked to the alleged land-related corruption case in Shalbani in West Midnapore district. The CID has already prepared a chargesheet in the case, which reportedly names four accused. Former Trinamool Congress organisational district president Sujoy Hazra and another accused had earlier been arrested in connection with the case.

The CID had previously summoned Roy multiple times to appear at Bhabani Bhavan for questioning. Investigators had alleged that despite repeated questioning, several issues remained unanswered and expressed apprehension that he could go into hiding if his legal protection was withdrawn.

Roy is expected to be produced before a court in Medinipur, where the CID is likely to seek his custody for further interrogation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh