The Criminal Investigation Department of West Bengal searched a flat in Kalighat on Tuesday while investigating the Shalbani land case, taking Sumit Roy, an aide to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, to the premises during the operation, according to a report by Anandabazar – West Bengal. The search took place in a flat located next to Banerjee’s residence and continued for about two hours.
Roy is currently in CID custody in connection with the case. Investigators took him to the Kalighat flat shortly after 1 pm and searched the premises, the report said. The flat is reportedly owned by Roy. The CID has not publicly stated in the report why the property was searched or whether investigators recovered any new material.
The operation followed the arrest of three more people in the Shalbani land case on Monday. Amit Ghosh, Nityananda Roy and Lakshmikanta Bhuiya were arrested from the Ghaighata and Metal areas under Shalbani police station, according to the report. The three were produced before the Medinipur Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The CID sought eight days of custody for the three accused, but the court granted four days of CID custody. They are scheduled to be produced before the court again on September 19, together with Roy.
The case relates to a complaint filed by Shalbani resident Sheikh Imran over alleged irregularities involving government land. The complaint alleges that forged documents were prepared and used to sell more than 50 acres of government land. The report identifies Ghosh as one of the people named in the first information report and describes him as allegedly close to former Midnapore legislator Sujoy Hazra.
The investigation is also examining Roy’s alleged role in the case. According to the report, investigators believe Ghosh may have information about Roy’s role in the alleged network. Ghosh has denied the allegations and said he has no connection with the case.
The Kalighat search adds a new location to an investigation that began with alleged land transactions in Shalbani and has now led to searches, arrests and custodial questioning. The available report does not establish whether the CID found documents or other evidence during the operation. The next stated procedural step is the production of Roy and the three newly arrested accused before the Medinipur court on September 19.