The filing of this fresh case in Paschim Medinipur has put the police on high alert, upping the ante for the party’s top brass. Roy is currently in hiding with a statewide lookout on him, so the complaint has some weight to it.
New FIR deepens trouble for Abhishek Banerjee’s aide
It is now official: Debra police have put down a case of cheating and forgery for Roy. The person who made the complaint says he was part of some shenanigans, and the officers will tell you they can’t put a finger on the accused these days.
You’ll also find the name of ex-MLA Sujoy Hazra in the same file. He is no stranger to the law; Shalboni police had him in custody not long ago over a different issue.
CID stance and next steps in the probe
One of the senior men at the CID says they are going over the complaint and the papers that come with it. “We are looking into everything and will let the evidence decide if we take any legal action,” he put it.
Over in Paschim Medinipur, the investigators plan to sit down with everyone mentioned in the complaint to see what part they played, if any. The CID has made it known they’ll be there to back up the local police as needed.
Earlier land-grab case and escalating search operations
This is not the first time Roy has been in the dock. An earlier booking for a land-grab led the West Bengal Police to put out a lookout notice, which in turn set off a pre-dawn raid at Abhishek Banerjee’s home in Kolkata as they went after him.
All of that has put a face to Roy, even if he has been something of a behind-the-scenes figure for the most part. He is one of Banerjee’s right-hand men and has been running the show for the Diamond Harbour MP for years.
Why this matters for the TMC
When you have cases like this piling up, the inner circle of Abhishek Banerjee is under a microscope. The allegations may yet to be heard in a court of law, but it puts pressure on the people in charge and could be a distraction if things get out of hand.
On one side you have the police with a growing list of names in a fraud inquiry. On the other, the party has to show it can handle its own house.
What investigators are likely to do next
They are being methodical about it, going by the documents and what witnesses have to say. Since they can’t find Roy, the lookout is their way of making sure he comes to the table.
Here is how the officials see it:
– Put every claim to the test with the right kind of proof
– Get on the record with all the people in the complaint
– Have the CID on standby
– Go after Roy with the notice in hand
What we know and what remains unclear
The police at Debra will confirm the case, the presence of Sujoy Hazra, and that Roy is on the run. Beyond that, they are not saying much, pointing to procedure.
There are still open questions as to how big the fraud is, when it was done, and if more arrests are in the offing once they have their proof.
The road ahead
The CID is touting an evidence-based approach, meaning they won’t be swayed by any political talk. It will come down to what they can put on paper and who is connected to what.
In the end, it is a step up in intensity. You have a new FIR, an old land-grab matter, a lookout order, and an aide whose whereabouts are now the centre of attention.
