Sandeshkhali case: Denied Shahjahan Sheikh’s custody, CBI takes over probe, files FIR

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR in the case of an attack on officials of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. Armed with orders from the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday to transfer the case to the central agency, a team of the CBI, escorted by paramilitary personnel arrived at the CID office in Kolkata to take over the investigation as well as the custody of the prime accused Shahjahan Sheikh.

However, the CID refused to transfer Sheikh’s custody stating that the matter was sub-judice as the state government had moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court’s order in the matter. The HC had also directed the West Bengal police to hand over Sheikh to the CBI by 4.30 PM on Tuesday.

Denied Sheikh’s custody, the CBI took over the investigation into the case and registered an FIR. The HC’s order in the matter came while hearing two separate pleas moved by the state government and the ED seeking investigation by the state police and the CBI, respectively.

During the hearing, a division bench of Calcutta HC Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya set aside an earlier single-bench order, which had directed the formation of a joint special investigation team of the CBI and state police to probe the attack. It also frowned upon the transfer of a case to the CID despite its orders. The CID had also issued notices to some ED officials.

“This act of the state police would be sufficient to hold that the state police are totally biased and every attempt is being made to delay the investigation in order to protect the accused who has been absconding for more than 50 days,” the HC said.

Hours after the HC’s order, the state government, represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, moved the Supreme Court requesting a hearing in the state’s appeal against the directives of the High Court. The matter is likely to be placed before the CJI on Wednesday who will take a call on listing it for hearing.

Shahjahan is accused of orchestrating an attack on ED officials who had arrived at his residence to conduct a search in connection with alleged irregularities in the state’s public distribution system. Several women in Sandeshkhali have also accused him of sexual abuse and land grabbing. The HC is hearing a suo moto plea in the matter separately.