Today (March 5th) the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government to transfer the custody of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI by 4:30 pm the same day.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya ruled that the CBI would assume responsibility for the case concerning the assault on Enforcement Directorate officers in Sandeshkhali on January 5.
Sources indicate that the West Bengal Government is poised to approach the Supreme Court to contest the High Court’s decision mandating the CBI to assume control of the investigation.
The incident occurred when a mob attacked a team from the Enforcement Directorate in Sandeshkhali on January 5, resulting in several injuries among its members.
The assault unfolded during a raid on Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence by the ED officers, linked to an alleged multi-crore ration distribution scam.
Sheikh Shahjahan, who had been evading authorities for 55 days, was apprehended by the state police on February 29. In response to his arrest, the Trinamool Congress suspended Sheikh Shahjahan for six years.
Shahjahan and his associates face accusations of sexual harassment and land encroachment by numerous women in Sandeshkhali.
The High court, incensed by allegations from Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, responded sharply, rebuking the assertion that the judiciary was shielding the accused.
“I must emphasize… Trinamool is not protecting Shahjahan. The judiciary is. Remove the stay and observe the actions of the police…” he had retorted in reaction to accusations from the BJP.
In a swift response, the court asserted, “Clearly, Shahjahan must be apprehended.” “We explicitly state that there is no injunction against arrest in any proceeding. He is evading authorities,” the court affirmed.