After 2-Day Drama, Sandeshkhali-Accused Sheikh Shahjahan Handed Over To CBI

Kolkata: West Bengal Police finally handed over Sandeshkhali case-accused Sheikh Shahjahan to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday evening after two days of drama.

Shahjahan, in the dock for the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali and also facing dozens of sexual assault charges from the women of the North 24 Parganas village, was arrested on February 29 after absconding for 55 days.

The state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) handed over the suspended TMC leader to the central probe agency after Calcutta High Court ordered West Bengal Police to complete the process by 4.15 pm on Wednesday.

This directive came a day after the high court had directed police to hand over Shahjahan to CBI. However, CID didn’t oblige, citing that the state government had challenged the high court order in Supreme Court.

Sandeshkhali, which has been making headlines for nearly two months, has become a major issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls with the BJP, Congress and Left Front slamming TMC for trying to protect Shahjahan despite serious charges against him.

Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Sandeshkhali in his speech at Barasat on Wednesday.