1. Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas, has been in turmoil since February 7 due to accusations against TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan.
2. The Calcutta High Court has authorized the CBI and the ED to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been on the run since January 5.
3. Allegations against Shahjahan include involvement in land grabbing and sexual assault, sparking unrest in the region.
Kolkata, Feb 28: Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas, has been embroiled in unrest since February 7, triggered by allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault against TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan.
High Court Ruling: CBI and ED Authorization
The Calcutta High Court ruled that both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are authorized to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been evading authorities since January 5. This decision came during the court’s hearing of petitions related to the Sandeshkhali unrest.
Accusations Against Shahjahan
Sheikh Shahjahan, a zilla parishad leader of TMC, is the prime accused in a case related to the attack on ED officials during a raid investigating an alleged ration scam. He is also implicated in orchestrating the Sandeshkhali unrest.
State Government’s Response
Despite claims by the state government suggesting a stay on Shahjahan’s arrest, the high court dismissed this assertion, paving the way for his apprehension. The court emphasized that there was no record of any such stay, thereby allowing the state police to move forward with the arrest.
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Following the high court’s remarks, the TMC assured that Sheikh Shahjahan would be apprehended within seven days. This assurance came after the court rejected claims suggesting a stay on Shahjahan’s arrest.
The court revealed that it would scrutinize the handling of the cases involving Shahjahan to ensure the investigations were conducted appropriately. This scrutiny aims to ascertain the correctness of the investigations and the sections included in the charges.
Allegations of collusion between the state police and the accused surfaced during the proceedings, with the CBI and ED expressing reservations against the state police’s handling of the matter. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused the state police of sheltering Shahjahan.
With the court’s ruling and assurances from the TMC, Sheikh Shahjahan’s arrest is anticipated within the next seven days, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the Sandeshkhali unrest.
