Kolkata: The Supreme Court upheld the Calcutta high court’s handing over the investigation into the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision keeps Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, accused of instigating the attack, in CBI custody.
On March 5, the high court had transferred the investigation solely to the CBI and directed Shahjahan’s transfer to their custody. The West Bengal government challenged the order in the Supreme Court. The apex court, in its verdict, upheld the high court’s decision on the CBI investigation and questioned the state government why it took 50 days to arrest Shahjahan. However, the Supreme Court removed critical remarks made by the high court against the state police.
The bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered, “We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order. Observations against state police and West Bengal government to be expunged.”
Sheikh Shahjahan was a key accused in Rs 10,000 crore PDS scam in Bengal. A close associate of arrested TMC minister Jyotipriya Mallick, he came into the spotlight earlier this year when the ED officials faced a mob attack during a raid on his residence in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Paragans. The incident sparked a series of legal manoeuvres. The state police filed a case initially, followed by a complaint from the ED. Interestingly, Shahjahan’s caretaker also lodged a counter-complaint against the ED officials.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him. Following the Calcutta high court’s intervention, he was arrested on February 29 by the state police which the opposition party termed as staged.
“What can I say about the state government’s action? This is really shameful,” said political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty.
Officially, TMC is maintaining a wait-and-see approach. Sandeshkhali MLA Sukumar Mahato, known to be close to Sheikh Shahjahan, said, “The party would look into the matter and take further steps.”
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.
