Calcutta High Court Orders Transfer of Investigation into ED Officials’ Attack as Contempt Petition Filed by ED
In a significant development, Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, a prime accused in the case related to the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in January, has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the state police, following the orders of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday.
The CBI lodged three FIRs on Tuesday in connection with the assault on ED officials that occurred on January 5. ED officials were attacked during a search operation at the residence of Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali. A separate team of ED officials also faced aggression later that day while searching the house of TMC leader Shankar Adhya in Bongaon.
“A senior CBI official stated, ‘Shahjahan, who was in custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police, was handed over to us on the orders of the Calcutta High Court. Further investigation is ongoing.'”
Shahjahan, a TMC zilla parishad leader, allegedly masterminded the attack on ED officials during a search related to the multi-crore ration distribution scam. He was arrested by the state police on February 29 after being on the run since January 5. The state CID took over the investigation subsequently.
On Tuesday, a custody battle ensued between CID and CBI over the TMC leader, with the former citing a state government appeal in the Supreme Court as grounds for refusing to comply with the high court order.
The Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday, transferred the investigation to the CBI, lambasting the state police for attempting to “shield” Shahjahan, who faces charges of extortion, embezzlement, land grab, and sexual violence. The court instructed the state police to hand over the suspended TMC leader to the federal agency by 4.30 pm on Tuesday.
ED moved a contempt petition on Wednesday against the state government for not implementing the March 5 orders of a division bench, presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam. The ED has provisionally attached Shahjahan’s assets worth ₹12.78 crore, including agricultural land, fish farms, and an apartment in Sandeshkhali, along with two bank accounts.
Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas has been witnessing unrest, with village women demanding Shahjahan’s arrest over allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing. The opposition accuses the Mamata Banerjee government of shielding him, but the state government insists that he couldn’t be arrested due to a stay order by the Calcutta High Court.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Sivagnanam clarified on February 26 that the police were free to arrest Shahjahan, and both CBI and ED had the same prerogative. The state police, however, faced criticism for their handling of the case, with the court expressing concerns about potential interference by politically influential individuals.
The ongoing legal battle adds another layer to the complex saga surrounding Sheikh Shahjahan and the allegations against him, keeping Sandeshkhali on the edge and the political atmosphere charged in West Bengal.
Also read: https://newseense.com/trinamool-congress-leader-sheikh-shahjahan-sent-to-10-day-police-custody/
- BJP President JP Nadda Issues Notice to Dilip Ghosh Over Controversial Remarks on Mamata Banerjee
- Ram Charan and Kiara Advani’s ‘Jaragandi’ Song from Game Changer Released
- Pre-Match Banter: Rohit Sharma’s Flying Kiss Recreation Adds Spice to MI vs SRH Clash
- Swami Smaranananda Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Passes Away at 95
- Stand-up Comedian Munawar Faruqui Breaks Silence on Social Media After Mumbai Police Detention
-
-
-
-
