Sandeshkhali: SC junks WB Govt’s plea challenging High Court order for CBI probe against Shahjahan Sheikh for alleged land grab and crimes against women
New Delhi, July 8
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the West Bengal government’s petition challenging a Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh over allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
“Thank you. Dismissed,” a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan said, dismissing the state government’s petition challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 10 order.
“Why should the state (government) be interested in protecting someone?” it had asked the West Bengal Government on April 29.
The state government had contended that the high court “erroneously” directed the CBI to probe into complaints made by residents of Sandeshkhali and submit a report as the impugned order disregarded the conclusion of investigations into 43 FIRs—all of which had culminated in charge sheets.
The sidelining of the State Government’s actions in favour of political voices risked bias in the investigation, the state government said, adding, the high court decision cast unsubstantiated aspersions on the investigation carried out by the state police without taking into account the correct factual matrix and the steps undertaken to diligently conduct the probe into all the FIRs.
Terming the observations made by the high court as “unwarranted”, the state government had said these were likely to shake the confidence of the public and tarnish the reputation of the police force.
Following the Calcutta High Court order, the CBI registered an FIR against five people and unknown others in connection with the ongoing probe into cases concerning land grabs and crimes against women in Sandeshkhali.
