NEW DELHI:
Supreme Court
on Monday dismissed the plea seeking a
CBI probe
or
Delhi-based STI investigation
into the Sandeshkhali sexual violence case.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih said the
Calcutta high court
is already seized of the matter and taken cognisance.
The bench directed the petitioner to approach the Calcutta high court, stating that the
Sandeshkhali case
can’t be compared with the
Manipur ethnic violence
.
“High court is seized of the case. Let this not be a dual forum hearing. Let us see what relief the high court grants,” Justice Nagarathna said according to Bar & Bench.
A
Public Interest Litigation
(PIL) was filed in the apex court, requesting a court-monitored investigation by the CBI or SIT into the recent violence in Sandeshkhali village, West Bengal.
The PIL, filed by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava, sought compensation for the victims and action against the West Bengal Police officials for their alleged negligence.
The plea further sought the transfer of the investigation and subsequent trial outside the state. Additionally, it calls for a three-judge committee to conduct an inquiry, similar to the one conducted in the Manipur violence case.
Sandeshkhali is a village located in the North 24 Parganas district, has been witnessing protests following allegations of sexual abuse by a local
TMC leader
. Several women in the area have accused Shajahan Sheikh, the Trinamool Congress strongman, and his supporters of land-grabbing and coercive sexual assault.
Shajahan has been absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated to him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a corruption case.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court stayed the notice issued by the privileges committee of the Lok Sabha summoning the West Bengal chief secretary and other officers on a complaint filed by BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar alleging “misconduct, brutality and life-threatening injuries to him”.
The privileges committee of the Lok Sabha has asked chief secretary Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika, director general of police Rajeev Kumar, North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Sharad Kumar Dwivedi, Basirhat SP Hossain Mehdi Rehman and Additional SP Partha Ghosh to appear before it on February 19 at 10:30 am.
The next hearing on the matter will take place after four weeks.
