Kolkata, 15 September (H.S.): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police on Tuesday took Sumit Roy, an aide of Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, to a flat in Kalighat and conducted a search for nearly two hours in connection with the Shalboni land scam case. Roy is currently in CID custody following a court order.

The CID team reached Kalighat with Roy at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday. According to investigation sources, the flat searched by the investigators is reportedly owned by Roy and is located close to Abhishek Banerjee’s residence. The investigators searched different parts of the flat and examined documents and other materials. However, there was no immediate official confirmation regarding any seizure made during the operation.

The reason behind taking Roy to the flat and whether the search was based on any fresh lead emerging during the investigation remained unclear.

The CID had arrested three more persons in connection with the Shalboni land case on Monday. The accused have been identified as Amit Ghosh, Nityananda Roy and Lakshmikanta Bhuiyan. They were arrested from the Gaighata and Metal areas under Shalboni Police Station.

According to local sources, Ghosh is known to be close to former Midnapore MLA Sujay Hazra. His name figures at number six in the FIR registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Shalboni resident Sheikh Imran regarding the alleged land scam.

The investigation agency has alleged that more than 50 acres of government land were sought to be sold after preparing forged documents. The agency suspects that Roy and others arrested in the case were part of the alleged network involved in the land-related fraud.

Investigators believe Ghosh may possess significant information about Roy’s alleged role in the case. Ghosh, however, has denied all allegations against him and claimed that he has no connection with the alleged land scam.

The three persons arrested on Monday were produced before the Midnapore Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The CID had sought eight days of custody, but the court granted four days of CID custody. Roy, along with the three newly arrested accused, will be produced before the court again on September 19.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh