Leader Online Desk : The Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI probe into the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal. The West Bengal government had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against this. Today (March 11) to intervene in the Calcutta High Court order, Supreme Court Justice B.R. A bench of Gavai and Sandeep Mehta refused.
ED officials had gone to Sandeshgali to arrest ARP Shahjahan Sheikh here on a tip-off in connection with the alleged ration scam. This time the team was attacked by mob. On March 5, the Calcutta High Court had ordered an independent probe by the CBI into the matter. Also, the West Bengal Police was directed to hand over Shahjahan Sheikh, the mastermind behind the attack, from the custody of the CID to the CBI on the same day. The West Bengal government had filed a Special Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against this decision.
The bench asked the West Bengal government why Shahjahan Sheikh, accused of assaulting ED officials under Sandesh, was not arrested for so long.
Supreme Court refuses to interfere with Calcutta HC order directing a CBI probe in the Sandeshkhali matter pertaining to the attack on ED officials. https://t.co/MDWCmC2eE5 pic.twitter.com/tMOJSGUOKe
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2024
CBI summons Shahjahan Sheikh's close associates
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the close associates of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh. He has been ordered to attend the inquiry today. The CBI has taken up investigation into three cases related to the incidents of January 5. Around 1,000 people attacked the ED officials who went on a search in connection with the agency's investigation into the ration distribution scam. A former minister of the state has also been arrested in this case. However, after the attack on the ED officials, Shah Jahan Sheikh absconded. Shah Jahan Sheikh was arrested on February 29 following the order of the High Court.
Allegations were also made by the women of Sandeshkhali
Local women in Sandeshkhali have accused Shahjahan Sheikh and his accomplices of forcibly occupying their lands and harassing them. In this case, the BJP had accused the ruling party TMC of the state of saving Shahjahan Sheikh. Responding to these allegations, the TMC had accused the BJP of playing politics in the state.
