NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain West Bengal’s plea challenging Calcutta high court’s order directing a
CBI
probe in the
Sandeshkhali
matter pertaining to the attack on ED officials.
However, the top court expunged the high court’s remarks against state police machinery. During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the state government why the arrest of prime accused in the case,
Shajahan Sheikh
was delayed.
Earlier this month, the Calcutta high court ordered transfer of probe into attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court also ordered West Bengal police to hand over Shajahan Sheikh. The high court observed that state police played ‘hide and seek’ in the matter.
Meanwhile, Shahjahan Sheikh was sent to four-day CBI custody by Basirhat sub-divisional court.
Besides being implicated in the assault on an ED team during a raid on his Sandeshkhali residence, linked to an alleged ration scam, Shahjahan faces charges of land encroachment, extortion, and mistreatment of women alongside his accomplices.
The women of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district erupted in violent protests and came out on the streets, accusing Shahjahan and his aides of grave excesses and atrocities.
Multiple women in the island accused Shajahan and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.
