Kolkata: In a dramatic flip of occasions, the West Bengal authorities on Tuesday selected defiance over compliance, refusing to give up custody of Sandeshkhali violence accused Sheikh Shahjahan to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regardless of a transparent directive from the Calcutta High Court. The former Trinamool heavyweight stands accused of a litany of prices, together with extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault in Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area.
HC Order Ignored: CBI Left Empty-Handed
Despite the High Court’s express instruction to switch Shahjahan’s custody to the police’s prison investigation division (CID), the state authorities held its floor, citing an enchantment to the Supreme Court as justification. Consequently, a CBI group dispatched to assert custody departed from Kolkata’s police headquarters with out their supposed prize, leaving the authorized tug-of-war unresolved.
#WATCH | CBI group left from police headquarters in Kolkata. West Bengal CID didn’t hand over custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to CBI because the state authorities went to the Supreme Court concerning this matter. pic.twitter.com/sAJeWoihYK
— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2024
Assets Frozen: ED Cracks Down
Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made important strides in its pursuit of justice, provisionally attaching property totaling Rs 12.78 Crore linked to Shahjahan and his associates. The seizure, which incorporates quite a lot of immovable properties and financial institution accounts beneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002, underscores the gravity of the allegations towards the previous Trinamool chief.
High Court’s Scathing Rebuke
The Calcutta High Court didn’t mince phrases in its evaluation of the state police’s dealing with of the case, lambasting their perceived bias and advocating for a radical investigation by the CBI. Echoing the feelings of many, the courtroom emphasised the necessity for impartiality and integrity in resolving the accusations towards Shahjahan.
BJP’s Allegations; Sandeshkhali’s Unrest
The arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan has not quelled the storm of controversy surrounding his actions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of sheltering Shahjahan from the scrutiny of federal investigative companies, suggesting political motivations behind his sudden apprehension.
Meanwhile, Sandeshkhali continues to reverberate with protests, as girls in the neighborhood demand justice for the alleged atrocities dedicated by Shahjahan and his cohorts. Their voices, amplified by widespread discontent, function a potent reminder of the stakes concerned on this ongoing saga of energy, politics, and justice.
