The Supreme Court today refused to interfere with the Calcutta High Court’s order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers who had gone to raid premises linked to suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh.
A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta, however, expunged the observations made by the Calcutta High Court against the West Bengal government and the local police for their apparent delay in arresting Shahjahan Sheikh. Justice Gavai questioned the state for not having arrested the now suspended Trinamool leader at the earliest. Responding to the bench, the state police said a high court order had paused the investigation.
The top court further said that it was not inclined to interfere with the operative part of the High Court’s order, which transferred the case from the West Bengal police to the CBI. The court added that they are inclined to grant leave for the limited purpose of the observation.
Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, did not oppose the prayer for expunging the remarks. Hence, the Court proceeded to expunge the remarks in question. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for the State of West Bengal before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court’s decision to transfer the investigation of the case concerning an attack on ED officers, allegedly by Shahjahan Sheikh’s aides, to CBI.
Around 200 local people on January 5, surrounded a team of ED officers who had arrived to raid Sheikh’s residence at Akunjipara in connection with a ration scam case. Shahjahan Sheikh is alleged to have close links with an accused in that case. The ED officers were injured during the ensuing clash.
The suspended Trinamool leader is also accused of sexual assault and land-grabbing activities in Sandeshkhali village of West Bengal. He remained absconding for about 55 days before he was finally arrested by the West Bengal police on February 29, after strong reprimand by the Calcutta High Court over the state’s delay in arresting Sheikh.
Following his arrest, the TMC announced that they were suspending Sheikh from the party for six years. Meanwhile, both the ED and the CBI expressed concern that the West Bengal police may try to dilute the case against Sheikh if it continued with any investigation against him or retained custody over him. However, the State government maintained that it was competent to carry out the probe.