Sandeshkhali Case: SC Rejects Bengal Govt’s Plea Against HC Order For CBI Probe

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order which directed a CBI investigation into the allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

“Why should the state be interested in protecting someone?” a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan observed, adding that on the last date of hearing, the counsel appearing for the state said the matter be adjourned after the apex court asked this specific query.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will now continue to probe the sexual assault and land-grabbing charges against Sandeshkhali strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides with the Apex Court dismissing a challenge by the West Bengal government.

Shahjahan was arrested by the CBI in February after a dramatic exchange with the Bengal cops. A day later, the Trinamool Congress suspended him from the party for six years.

The Calcutta High Court in April ordered a CBI probe into the 42 cases against Shahjahan and his aides – including ration scam charges – observing that the matter was complex and required an impartial probe.

The West Bengal government challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which dismissed their petition on Monday and upheld the high court order.

The Supreme Court had on April 29 remarked why the state should come as a petitioner for an individual, to which the Bengal lawyer had argued that the high court judgment contained comments about the Bengal government.

Senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, said on Monday that the high court direction to the CBI could have been restricted to just two FIRs relating to the ED, but it covers other alleged offences as well.

He, however, failed to convince the bench with Justice Gavai lamenting that the state “did not do anything for months” and asked again why the state was interested in protecting an individual.