Kolkata, July 16 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted temporary protection to Sumit Roy, executive assistant of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, from coercive action until next Tuesday.

The case was listed before Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, but the hearing was postponed as state lawyers could not attend due to the Rath Yatra. The next hearing has been scheduled for Monday, July 20.

In a verbal order, Justice Ghosh said investigators cannot arrest Roy or take strict action against him until then.

Roy is accused of selling more than 50 acres of government land in Salbani, West Midnapore, using forged documents through brokers.

His name has also surfaced in allegations of promising jobs in exchange for money in Debra, West Midnapore. Multiple FIRs have been filed, and police have conducted searches in Kolkata, including Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat.

A lookout notice has been issued against Roy.

Police claim Roy prepared fake documents to sell government land, with money allegedly routed through him. Local residents, including panchayat leaders, have confirmed land sales.

It is alleged that Sujoy Hazra provided money for the land deals, which eventually reached Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street in Kolkata.

Earlier, Justice Joy Sengupta had directed the state to produce the case diary on June 25, but the hearing was delayed due to his illness.

The matter was transferred across benches until Justice Ghosh took it up. Though the case was not heard on Thursday, the court issued a verbal order granting Roy relief until next Tuesday.

–IANS

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