The West Bengal government moved the Supreme Court against Calcutta High Court order directing CBI probe in attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali. The Calcutta High Court has also asked the West Bengal police to handover all papers concerning the matter to the CBI, as well as the custody of prime accused Shahjahan Sheikh.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday mentioned the plea by the West Bengal government before the Supreme Court. Subsequently, the apex court asked him to mention it before the registrar general.
This follows after the Calcutta High Court earlier in the day transfered investigation against arrested Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in the alleged attack on ED officers, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Calcutta High Court on Monday had reserved its verdict after hearing the arguements in the case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya on Tuesday set aside an earlier order of the court that asked for SIT to be constituted with the West Bengal police officers.
In the high court, the CBI submitted that Shahjahan Sheikh was the mastermind behind the attack on Enforcement Directorate officers in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali. The nodal agency contended that Shahjahan’s custody needs to be handed over to the CBI, as after 15 days of him remaining in state police custody, no other agency would be able to seek his custody.
Multiple women in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his aides of forcefull land-grab and sexually assaulting them under coercion.
Shajahan Sheikh went absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated to him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a ration scam on January 5. The accused was arrested last week by the West Bengal Police in connection with Sandeshkhali violence.