In the Sandeshkhali case, the Supreme Court questioned the West Bengal government’s opposition to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh. [West Bengal State v. Calcutta High Court, via its Registrar General]
After Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi of West Bengal asked for two to three weeks to provide additional information, a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta addressed the question.
“Why should the state file an SLP against the CBI looking into allegations against a private person? Anyway, we will adjourn; it will be more conducive to hear this then (after elections),” the Court said.
After Singhvi declared that the Supreme Court case’s pending status would not be referenced in cases before the Calcutta High Court, the subject was postponed until July.
Singhvi stated this following Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta’s expression of concern over the matter.
The Supreme Court was considering a plea from West Bengal against the CBI’s investigation into TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh’s alleged sexual assault and forced land grab.
On April 10, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was tasked with investigating claims of sexual assault and coerced land acquisition made against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh by the Calcutta High Court.
On a suo motu matter, a Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya issued the order.
Additionally, the High Court rejected the appointment of an inquiry committee led by a former High Court judge.
As a result, the State of West Bengal filed an immediate appeal with the Supreme Court.
In response to claims of sexual assault and land grabbing in the Sandeshkhalli area, the High Court was considering a case pertaining to disturbance in the area.
Before the West Bengal Police caught Sheikh, he had been on the run for about 55 days.
In its decision, the High Court mandated that the CBI protect the privacy of the complainants and establish a specific email address or gateway for submitting complaints.
The North 24 Parganas District Magistrate was mandated to provide sufficient publicity about the matter.
Sheikh was previously in the news for being involved in a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) police in January of this year, allegedly while they were on their way to search his home as part of an investigation into ration scams.
The top court affirmed the Calcutta High Court’s decision on March 5 to transfer the investigation into the attack on the ED agents to the CBI.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati also appeared for CBI with SG Mehta.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta represented the West Bengal government alongside Dr. Singhvi.
