Supreme Court Dismisses PIL Seeking CBI Probe Into Sandeshkhali Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged sexual assault cases in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali.

“High court is seized of the matter. This cannot be a dual forum hearing. Let us see what relief the HC grants,” a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih said.

Directing the petitioner to approach Calcutta High Court, the top court said that the Sandeshkhali case cannot be compared to ethnic violence in Manipur.

The PIL, filed by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava, sought compensation for the alleged victims and action against West Bengal Police officials for their alleged negligence. The petition also asked for relocation of the investigation and subsequent trial from within the state, akin to the approach taken in the Manipur violence case.

Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, has been experiencing widespread demonstrations after local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his followers were accused of sexually abusing of women.

Several women of the village have levelled allegations of land encroachment and sexual assault against Sheikh and other local leaders.

Earlier in the day, Calcutta High Court declined to prioritise a PIL requesting urgent attention to provide protection to ‘affected’ women residents of Sandeshkhali area.

Sheikh has been absconding since a group of people, purportedly associated with TMC, assaulted Enforcement Directorate officials during a raid on his premises in connection with a corruption investigation.