CID Refuses To Hand Over Shahjahan To CBI
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and recommended the President’s rule in West Bengal over the Sandeshkhali violence. This recommendation follows the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) also suggesting the President’s rule in the TMC-ruled state.
Earlier the day, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe into an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials at Sandeshkhali on January 5 from the West Bengal Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court also directed that the custody of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, arrested by the West Bengal police on February 29, be handed over to the central agency, PTI reported.
A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed compliance with the orders by 4.30 pm on Tuesday. This decision came after both the ED and the West Bengal government moved separate appeals challenging a single bench order which had earlier ordered the formation of a joint special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and the state police to probe the mob attack on the ED officials.
However, West Bengal CID did not hand over custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to CBI as the state government has approached the Supreme Court regarding this matter.
The West Bengal government moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order to transfer the probe into the attack on ED officials to the CBI. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, sought an urgent hearing before the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. However, the bench refused an urgent listing and directed Singhvi to mention the matter before the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla hailed the Calcutta High Court’s decision, stating, “Kolkata High Court transferring the matter of Sheikh Shahjahan from the West Bengal Police to the CBI, evokes only one response- ‘Satyamev Jayate”, as reported by news agency ANI. He further criticised the TMC, alleging that while one member had been expelled from the party as “a formality”, others were being protected.
In another development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached Shajahan Sheikh’s property worth Rs 12.78 crore including apartment and land in Sandeshkhali.
Speaking to news agency PTI after the meeting, Sharma expressed grave concerns about the situation in Sandeshkhali, stating that the violence is still dire. “Sandeshkhali is not an isolated incident. Previously also many incidents of violence have been reported in the state and no action has been taken by the state government. Hence, NCW recommended to President Droupadi Murmu to impose President’s rule in the state,” said Sharma.
As per PTI, the NCW chief further mentioned that President Murmu assured her of being aware of the situation in the state and closely monitoring it. “ED, Kolkata has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs. 12.78 Crore in the form of 14 immovable properties in the nature of apartment, agriculture land, land for fishery, land and building etc. in Gram Serberia, Sandeshkhali and Kolkata and two bank accounts under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 in the matter of Shahjahan Seikh and others,” the agency informed in a post.
(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
