Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has clarified that there is no impediment preventing the West Bengal Police from apprehending TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the primary suspect in allegations of sexual assault and land acquisition in Sandeshkhali.
The court emphasised that there is no restraining order in place, only a first information report naming Shahjahan as an accused, thus necessitating his arrest.
This clarification follows Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s recent assertion that the Bengal government’s hands were tied due to a supposed court order. However, the High Court’s statement contradicts Banerjee’s claim, which was criticised by the opposition BJP as contemptuous of the court.
In response to the court’s query about the lack of arrests despite numerous FIRs, it was revealed that several cases, including land grabbing incidents, had been initiated, with new cases filed since February 8. The court expressed surprise at the absence of arrests over the past four years.
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Banerjee, meanwhile, suggested that those demanding Shahjahan’s arrest should seek clarification from the court regarding the stay, insinuating political motives behind the delay. He emphasized that the Trinamool was not shielding Shahjahan, attributing the delay to judicial interventions.
Banerjee also criticised the Enforcement Directorate’s role in the investigations, accusing them of stalling progress by appealing for a stay, which was granted. He questioned how the state police could make arrests if the High Court constrained them.
The court’s next hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 6. Banerjee argued for a reasonable timeframe for arrests, citing the ED’s lengthy investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam.
Critics of the Trinamool rejected Banerjee’s claims, asserting that the court had not barred investigations or arrests.
Banerjee’s remarks drew condemnation from opposition leaders, who accused him of contempt of court. The BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya highlighted Banerjee’s status as a prominent Trinamool figure.
In addition to targeting the ED and the High Court, Banerjee criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his scheduled rallies in Bengal, insinuating that the BJP welcomed corrupt individuals into its ranks.
Banerjee also took aim at other opposition leaders, including the CPIM, questioning their silence on the Sandeshkhali allegations.
He pledged to visit Sandeshkhali after the Trinamool’s rally on March 10 but expressed caution about visiting the volatile area at this time.
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