An arrest warrant has been issued against Sumit Roy, a close aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee, in connection with a land scam case in West Bengal. The warrant was issued by a court in Medinipur on Monday, according to investigators.
Background of the Case
The land scam case involves the alleged illegal acquisition of land in West Bengal's Medinipur district. Investigators said that Sumit Roy's name surfaced during the interrogation of former Medinipur MLA Sujoy Hazra, who was arrested earlier in the same case. Hazra is also a TMC member.
Role of Sumit Roy
Sumit Roy is believed to have played a key role in facilitating the land deals. He is accused of using his influence to help acquire land at below-market rates, causing significant losses to the state exchequer. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the case for possible money laundering.
Political Reactions
The TMC has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "This is a vendetta politics by the BJP-led central government to target opposition leaders. Sumit Roy is innocent, and we will fight the case legally." However, the opposition BJP has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Legal Proceedings
The court has directed the police to produce Sumit Roy before it by July 15. If he fails to appear, the court may declare him a proclaimed offender. The case has been adjourned for further hearing on July 20.
This is not the first time that Abhishek Banerjee's close aides have faced legal trouble. Earlier, his wife Rujira Banerjee was questioned by the ED in a separate coal scam case. The TMC has consistently alleged that the central agencies are being used to harass opposition leaders.
