The Calcutta High Court Wednesday (February 28) clarified that the investigation agencies Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are free to arrest absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan. The court added that it is not just the West Bengal Police that can arrest Shahjahan.
The court issued a clarification after the ED and CBI raised serious doubts about the West Bengal Police’s probe into the allegations against Shahjahan. The TMC leader has been accused of sexual assault and land-nabbing activities in Sandeshkhali, along with having close ties to Jyotipriyo Mallick, who is an accused in the ration scam case. Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dhiraj Trivedi, appearing for the ED, said the agency has an apprehension that the local police will dilute the entire case. Trivedi highlighted that the single-judge bench, in its order to constitute an SIT to probe the attack on ED officers, told the local police not to probe the case.
The CBI, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, also raised concerns about case dilution against the State Police. The CBI also alleged that the State Police are colluding with Shahjahan.
The ASG also urged the CBI to allow it to conduct the probe independently; without the involvement of State Police. He urged the court to hear the case in this regard on February 29, however, the bench said that it would hear the case on the earlier fixed date of March 4.
The bench clarified that both agencies—the CBI and the ED—are free to arrest Shahjahan. Out of the 43 cases of rape and other offences registered against Shahjahan in the last four years, Shahjahan has been shown absconding in plenty of these cases, the ED stated.
Following this, the bench also admonished the State for its laxity in failing to arrest Shahjahan, who has been on the run for over 50 days. "A person who is an elected representative of the public and elected to the office to head the Zilla Parishad, cannot be permitted to abscond. He cannot evade the law," Chief Justice Sivagnanam said.
On January 5, nearly 200 local people surrounded the ED officers who went to raid Shahjahan’s residence at Akunjipara for alleged involvement in the ration scam case. The officers were injured as a result of this clash. Following this, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose ordered the arrest of the TMC leader, who has since been on an escape.
First Published: Feb 28, 2024 10:22 PM IST
