The West Bengal Government on Monday filed before the Supreme Court, in a sealed cover, the interrogation transcript of Sumit Roy, personal assistant to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, in the Salboni land-grabbing case. The filing came pursuant to the Supreme Court’s earlier direction to produce details of Roy’s questioning, including the material concerning his alleged cash deposits. The matter was heard by Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.
At today’s hearing, Roy’s counsel sought a passover as Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan was on his legs in some other court. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State, did not oppose the request but referred to the query raised by the Bench at the previous hearing—whether Roy had been confronted with the issue of the large cash deposits allegedly made by him. The SG submitted that Roy had undergone detailed interrogation and had remained evasive.
The SG told the Bench that he had the interrogation transcript and sought permission to place it before the Court in sealed cover. The State thereafter filed the material in sealed cover. The petitioner opposed the sealed-cover filing. The Court, however, clarified that it does not follow the practice of sealed-cover proceedings, and indicated that the material was being placed in that manner only because the investigation is still ongoing.
The matter has been posted for hearing day after tomorrow, with the existing interim protection from arrest continuing.
At the August 31 hearing, the Bench had sought the interrogation records after petitioner’s counsel claimed that despite several days of questioning, investigators had not properly questioned him about the alleged offence. The State, however, had disputed this and referred to questions concerning cash deposits in Roy’s personal bank account. The Bench had then sought the interrogation transcript and audio/video records to examine what the accused was actually questioned about.
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