Calcutta HC Orders CBI to Take Over Sandeshkhali Probe
The Wire Staff
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Kolkata: The Calcutta high court on April 10 (today) ordered that the investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment, rape and land grabbing against Trinamool Congress's Sandeshkhali leader Sheikh Shahjahan will be undertaken by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The decision comes after the same court had transferred the investigation into an attack by Shahjahan's supporters on Enforcement Directorate officials to the CBI. This attack brought the nondescript village to headlines, setting the stage for protests by hundreds of women.
LiveLaw has reported that the court directed the CBI to submit a report for a court-monitored probe into the allegations.
It also asked the CBI shall create a dedicated portal or email ID where the complaints can be lodged. It said that the District Magistrate of the North 24 Parganas shall give "adequate publicity of the same in the locality and also issue a Public Notice in the dailies having wide circulation in the areas." The text of the publication shall be in the vernacular, it also said.
The CBI is also to install CCTV cameras at sensitive places in the area, along with street lights and LED lights. It will also need to issue necessary directions under the Witness Protection Scheme.
It also reported that a bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam had orally remarked that even if 1% of the allegations were true, then the state should owe moral responsibility.
The court has heard multiple public interest litigations for an independent probe into the Sandeshkhali allegations.
LiveLaw further reported that when the Bengal advocate general spoke of the political interest of the litigants, the court said that while the doubt was a fair one, the present case had been initiated suo motu by Justice Apurba Sinha Ray based on newspaper reports.
"It further stated that in line with the Supreme Court's directives, just because a public interest litigation had been initiated by a litigant belonging to a political party would not merit for it to be thrown out at the threshold," the report said.
The court noted reports by rights bodies on the atmosphere of fear in Sandeshkhali.
The matter will be heard again on May 2.
This article went live on April tenth, two thousand twenty four, at fifty-two minutes past four in the afternoon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.