The Calcutta High Court on Monday busted the Trinamool Congress’ claim that the State Government was not able to arrest Shiekh Shahjahan, the main accused in the cases of atrocities on the women of Sandeshkhali, because of the court’s “support” for the absconding leader.
On Sunday, Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress general secretary and the party’s number two after his aunt Mamata Banerjee, denied charges that his party and its Government was protecting Shahjahan, and had instead alleged that the hands of police were “tied” by the judiciary.
“Sheikh Shahjahan is being guarded by the judiciary, I want to put this on record, so that Sandeshkhali stays in the limelight, so that Sandeshkhali continues to burn,” Abhishek said on Sunday while talking to mediapersons during an event. “The Trinamool Congress did not spare Partha Chatterjee or Jyotipriya Mullick. Who is Sheikh Shahjahan?” he had asked rhetorically.
He had said: “The Calcutta High Court is protecting Shahjahan Shiekh because orders have come from Delhi to prolong the disturbances in Sandeshkhali since elections are around the corner.”
Banerjee had publicly said: “What will the police do if the High Court ties their hands? ED officials were assaulted on January 5, the Calcutta High Court constituted a SIT in the incident. The ED appealed and sought a stay on the verdict. The Chief Justice’s bench allowed that request. On March 6, there will be a hearing. How will the police arrest if the High Court ties the hands of the State police administration? The police should be given 15 days or a month to take action based on the FIR,” Banerjee said.
Today, the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam clarified that there was no bar on arresting the fugitive Trinamool leader and said that Sheikh Shahjahan, accused of sexual assault and land grab by many women in Sandeshkhali, should be arrested. The court reprimanded the administration for their alleged inaction regarding the allegations, noting that the incidents were reported four years ago.
“We clarify there is no stay on arrest in any proceeding. The stay was on the special investigation team formed earlier,” the court said. “It is surprising to note that incidents in the area were reported to the State police four years ago and that it has taken four years for the cases to mature into 42 charge-sheets,” the High Court added.
The Division Bench observed that there was a First Information Report and Shahjahan should be arrested. It also directed that since Shahjahan is absconding, a public notice has to be issued.
It also directed that the State Legal Service Authority be instructed to take complaints from the Sandeshkhali women who were alleged victims of atrocities committed by Shahjahan and his associates. A team from the Enforcement Directorate had gone to Sandeshkhali on January 5, looking for Shahjahan in connection with the ration scam in which he is a co-accused along with former Minister Jyoti Priya Mullick.
After the High Court’s direction on Monday, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asserted: “Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been accused of sexual atrocities and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, will be arrested in seven days. “About the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan, Abhishek Banerjee is correct. The matter was stuck in the legal tangle of the court. The Opposition was doing politics using this opportunity. Thanks to the High Court today for clarifying the matter and allowing the police to take action.
Shahjahan will be arrested within seven days,” Ghosh posted on X.
On January 16, Justice Jay Sengupta of the Calcutta High Court had ordered a joint probe by the Bengal Police and CBI, following a petition filed by the ED, days after its officials were attacked, to hand over the probe to the central agency.
“After what happened on January 5, the alleged attack on the ED team, they filed an FIR. The Calcutta high court had ordered a special investigation team with officers from both the State police and the CBI,” Abhishek had said. “Some days later ED sought a stay which was granted by the High Court.
The High Court gave the stay order, they have tied the hands of the State police, not Mamata Banerjee,” he had added.