Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Tuesday denied to transfer the custody of Sheikh Shahjahan, the former Trinamool heavyweight accused of extortion, land encroachment, and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali, to the CBI.
This comes despite a Calcutta High Court order on Tuesday. The court instructed the police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to hand over Shahjahan and the case materials by 4:30 pm.
Around 7:30 pm, a CBI team left the police headquarters in Kolkata without Shahjahan. The reason cited was the state’s approach to the Supreme Court, which resulted in the refusal to release Shahjahan until the Supreme Court issues its ruling.
Earlier in the day, the High Court criticized the state police for being “completely biased” and urged for a “fair, honest, and thorough investigation” into the accusations against Shahjahan. It remarked that there couldn’t be a more fitting case for transfer and investigation by the CBI.
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A division bench of the Calcutta High Court led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam on Tuesday ordered to transfer the ongoing probe into the Sandeshkhali incidents to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, tension has been simmering ever since local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan went absconding after orchestrating an attack on a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who had arrived to raid his house.
What started as allegations of violence and undue pressure by Shahjahan and his aides, later snowballed into sexual harassment complaints by several women.
On February 29, Sheikh Shahjahan, who had been evading authorities for 55 days, was apprehended by the West Bengal Police early on Thursday.
Hours after Shahjahan was arrested, senior party leader Derek O’ Brien has said the leadership has decided to suspend Shahjahan for six years.
Speaking to the media, Brien said, “We walk the talk. Even in the past we have set examples and we are doing so today as well.”
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