The Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court on Sunday granted a four-day CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) custody for suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who is accused in the Sandeshkhali case and was previously associated with the attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team on January 5. Earlier today, Shahjahan appeared before the court as his 10-day police custody came to an end.
Previously, following the Calcutta High Court’s order, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Kolkata Police transferred custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI. The high court, on Wednesday, issued a contempt notice to the CID, directing that the case regarding the attack on ED officials be transferred to the CBI, along with the custody of the main accused, Shahjahan.
The court also noted that the state police engaged in a game of ‘hide and seek’ regarding the issue.
“The accused is a political influencer. The investigation should be handed over to the CBI and the custody of the accused by 4:15 pm today,” the high court observed.
After allegedly evading authorities for nearly two months, the recently suspended TMC leader was apprehended by the West Bengal Police on February 29. He was presented before the Basirhat court, which granted a 10-day police custody.
In addition to the assault on an ED team during a raid at his Sandeshkhali residence related to an alleged ration scam, Shahjahan faces accusations of land grabbing, extortion, and perpetrating abuses against women alongside his associates. Following these allegations, women from Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district staged violent protests, taking to the streets to denounce Shahjahan and his accomplices for severe misconduct and atrocities.
Multiple women accused Shajahan and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.