Kolkata: On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court reiterated its order for the West Bengal administration to transfer custody of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by 4:15 pm.
Previously, on Tuesday, a division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam had directed the police to transfer Shahjahan’s custody to the CBI. However, the state government sought intervention from the Supreme Court, resulting in the police’s refusal to comply, citing the matter as sub-judice.
Shahjahan was apprehended by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5, while they were enroute to search his residence as part of an alleged ration scam investigation.
On Wednesday morning, the West Bengal government’s counsel, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, made an appeal before a Supreme Court bench chaired by Justice Sanjiv Khanna to hear the plea. However, the bench declined the request.
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Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court. The state government indicated its intention to file a special leave petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, asserting that Shahjahan couldn’t be handed over to the CBI before that. Nevertheless, the division bench mandated that Shahjahan must be transferred to the CBI custody by 4:15 pm on Wednesday.
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.
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