Sitai MLA Sangita Roy failed to appear before the Block Development Officer for questioning on Tuesday in connection with her Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate, triggering a fresh controversy.
Tuesday was the last date fixed in the first notice issued for a ground-level inquiry.
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The inquiry was initiated after a complaint challenging the authenticity of Roy’s SC certificate. The BDO had asked the MLA to appear with all relevant documents for verification.
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However, according to sources, she did not attend the hearing and could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia of the Trinamul Congress was also unavailable for comment.
The dispute dates back to the 2026 Assembly election. During the scrutiny of nomination papers, BJP candidate Ashutosh Barma had objected to Roy’s caste certificate and submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission. The election proceeded, and Roy was declared elected while Barma finished second.
Barma later filed another complaint before the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). After no apparent progress, he moved the Calcutta High Court. The matter was heard on 24 July, and the next hearing is scheduled for 21 August.
According to Barma, Roy does not belong to the Rajbanshi Scheduled Caste community and has obtained the certificate fraudulently. He also alleged inconsistencies in her election affidavits, claiming that different documents used her father’s and husband’s names, raising doubts about her identity records. He said all supporting documents have been placed before the High Court and asserted that the truth must come out.
A senior district official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday’s hearing followed only the first notice issued for field verification. The official added that multiple opportunities would be given to the MLA before the inquiry is concluded and a report is submitted.
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