Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced the apprehension of three associates of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh on Monday.
The ED took custody of them on April 12 after Calcutta High Court granted 10 days of custody to the agency.
“ED, Kolkata, has taken Shib Prasad Hazra, Sekh Alomgir and Didar Boksh Molla (all associates of Shahjahan Seikh) into its custody on 12/04/2024 following the order of Hon’ble PMLA Court granting 10 days ED custody. Earlier, ED has obtained ED custody of Shahjahan Seikh for 13 days,” the ED said in a post on social media platform X.
The Calcutta High Court last week ordered a court-monitored investigation by the CBI into the alleged incidents of sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
The women of Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district took to the streets earlier against the ruling TMC and Shahjahan, accusing the strongman and his aides of perpetrating gross excesses and atrocities on them while also gobbling up their land.
Multiple women on the island accused Shahjahan and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.
Previously, a court in Kolkata remanded Shahjahan in ED custody until April 13, subsequent to his arrest in connection with the attack on the team from the central agency.
The ED also uncovered numerous illegal financial transactions in the shrimp import and export business during its investigation into the expelled TMC strongman.
The agency has also lodged two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIR) against him. Shahjahan stands accused of forcibly seizing multiple lands in the Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal according to ED sources.
Previously, in compliance with the directive of the Calcutta High Court, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Kolkata Police transferred custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI.
On Wednesday, the high court issued a contempt notice to the CID, ruling that the case concerning the assault on ED officials be transferred to the CBI, along with the custody of the main accused, Shahjahan.
The court additionally noted that the state police engaged in ‘hide and seek’ regarding the matter.
After purportedly avoiding arrest for almost two months, the suspended TMC leader was apprehended by the West Bengal Police on Feb 29.