Calcutta High Court Transfers Sandeshkhali Attack Case to CBI, Sheikh Shahjahan’s Custody Expected

The Calcutta High Court has made a significant decision regarding the case concerning the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5. According to ANI reports, the High Court has transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Custody of Sheikh Shahjahan

This move also involves the expected transfer of custody of suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI. Shahjahan was apprehended last week from a residence in Minakhan, located in the North 24 Parganas district. Supratim Sarkar, the additional director general of police (ADG) for south Bengal, informed reporters that Shahjahan was detained in connection with the January 5 assault case.

Local authorities and CBI to work together

The ED and the West Bengal government had both lodged separate appeals challenging a single bench order issued on January 17. This order mandated the formation of a joint special investigation team (SIT) comprising the CBI and the state police to investigate the mob attack on the ED officials.

While the ED advocated for the probe to be exclusively handled by the CBI, the state authorities requested that the investigation be solely entrusted to the state police.

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A division bench, led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, has instructed for these directives to be executed by 4.30 pm on Tuesday.

Following his arrest, the Trinamool Congress announced the suspension of Shahjahan for six years.

Attack on ED officials

On January 5, a group of ED officials dispatched to Sandeshkhali to interrogate Shahjahan regarding the ration scam were assaulted by locals. Several ED officials sustained injuries, and their vehicles were vandalized during the attack by a mob.

Subsequently, protests arose against Shahjahan three days later, with local demonstrators accusing him and his supporters of sexual assault. On February 18, Shahjahan’s associate, Shibu Hazra, was also arrested.

In response to Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s assertion that the Calcutta High Court had halted the investigation against Shahjahan, the High Court clarified that there was no such stay order and emphasized that the TMC leader should indeed be apprehended.