Calcutta High Court's Major Judgment: CBI To Take Shahjahan Into Custody, Probe Attack On ED Team In Sandeshkhali

 The Calcutta High Court's Major Judgment: CBI To Take Shahjahan Into Custody, Probe Attack On ED Team In Sandeshkhali

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, by a group of jailed and suspended supporters of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh. The investigation was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday.

The court further declared that the CBI will be given custody of Shahjahan Sheikh. A division bench chaired by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam gave the Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) instructions to turn over the imprisoned politician to the CBI by this evening (Tuesday) and to reveal all case-related documents.

A single bench judgment that, on January 17, mandated the creation of a joint special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and the state police to look into the mob attack on ED workers was challenged in separate appeals by the West Bengal government and the ED. The state begged that the ED be given charge of the investigation and requested that the matter be moved to the CBI instead of the state police.

Last Monday, Shahjahan Sheikh was taken into custody and the Trinamool Congress suspended him. In cases of land grab and sexual harassment that arose after violent protests in Sandeshkhali island of North 24 Parganas district, Sheikh and his associates are among the main accused.

Sheikh has not been seen since a group of his supporters ambushed a group of ED officers outside his Sandeshkhali residence on January 5.

. The crew had visited his home to carry out searches related to the ration "scam." While the Trinamool Congress said the Bengal Police was carrying out its duties diligently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) applauded the high court's ruling.

representing the purpose of hearing a suo motu case concerning alleged sexual atrocities and land, the Calcutta High Court requested that the lawyer representing the Trinamool leader appear before it on March 4.

 grabbing of tribal people in Sandeshkhali. The court had shown "no sympathy" for the leader following his arrest.

On Monday, the high court had postponed rendering a decision on the case. The central agencies' attorneys claimed at the court that the state police had conspired with the defendants and that the case should be forwarded to the CBI.

But Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the court that he was wrongfully arrested in several cases by the state police in an attempt to thwart the inquiry, rather than taking any action.

Telling reporters, "Let him be sent to CBI custody; if not, his arrest is a farce," 

No inquiry will result from it, and after 15 days, no one will be granted custody. The issue needs to be heard right away."

Information will be released in the event of a joint investigation since the police will have colluded with the accused. A TMC member is the primary accused, he continued.

Speaking on behalf of the Bengali government, the Attorney General claimed that extraneous issues were getting mixed up with the transfer dispute and that central agencies were not being cooperative.

"Investigation is a state subject and that's why Bengal Police shall be the one probing," the attorney general for Bengal stated.

ASG SV Raju addressed him by saying, "Our accusations were not directed towards Bengal Police." We said that because a minister was involved, we were attacked. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 307 offense was not included, and the FIR was weakened."