Sheikh Shahjahan, a former Trinamool Congress leader accused of extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault in Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, will now be investigated by CBI, as the Calcutta High Court handovers his custody to CBI.
Legal Battle Unfolds Over Investigation Jurisdiction
The government of Bengal swiftly appealed the order to the Supreme Court, but its request for a prompt hearing was denied. The highest court requested that senior attorney Abhishek Singhvi bring up the plea before its Registrar-General, stating that it would follow the rules.
A previous order forming a special investigative team consisting of state police and CBI officials was overturned by a High Court bench led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, and the case was moved to the central agency. The state and the Enforcement Directorate filed separate challenges to that order; the state wanted the police to conduct the investigation, while the ED wanted the case to be assigned to the CBI exclusively.
Legal Battle Unfolds Over Investigation Jurisdiction
Since a group of Sheikh Shahjahan’s supporters attacked a group of Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5 while they were traveling to carry out raids, the man has been missing.
A major political dispute was triggered by the attack and Shahjahan’s disappearance; the ruling Trinamool was singled out by the BJP, which claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s party was shielding Shahjahan.
After fleeing for 55 days, Shahjahan was apprehended by a special police squad and his membership in the Trinamool was suspended for a period of six years. Three days after the High Court’s order, he was taken into custody.
Court Responds to Trinamool MP’s Claims Amidst Controversy
In response to claims made by Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee that his party was not “guarding” the accused and that the judiciary had “tied” the state’s hands, a furious court was hearing arguments.
“I want to put this on record… Trinamool is not guarding Shahjahan. Judiciary is. Lift the stay and see what police does…” he had said in response to the BJP’s allegations.
“Shahjahan obviously needs to be arrested,” the court retorted. “To be clear, there isn’t a stay of arrest in any case. “He is running away,” the judge ruled.
Former Trinamool leader and close aide to Ms. Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, a BJP leader, said, “This is not an arrest; this is a mutual adjustment.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed a pointed jab at the Shahjahan-Sandeshkhali controversy during his visit to Bengal last week. Additionally, Mr. Modi attacked Ms. Banerjee for prioritizing “some people” over the suffering of women and accused the Trinamool of protecting its former member.
