New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) The West Bengal government approached the Supreme Court on Wednesday challenging the Calcutta High Court order which directed a CBI probe against suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh for attacking officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as against the investigation being carried out by the State police in the Sandeshkhali case.
The matter was mentioned today by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta which told the senior counsel to approach the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr DY Chandrachud for an urgent listing.
On March 4, the Calcutta High Court directed a CBI inquiry into the attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers by the suspended TMC leader’s followers. Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police on the allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing.
The State Government, however, opposed the CBI inquiry contending that the case is being probed by the West Bengal Police so there is no need for CBI intervention in the case.
The High Court bench comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya directed the State Police to halt their investigation till the decision is made on ‘Whether the State Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should continue the probe.
Later the High Court directed the CBI to go ahead with the investigation on whether the ED officers were attacked and on other allegations against the local leader of the Trinamool Congress Shajahan Sheikh.
Sheikh is the prime accused in various crimes including sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, leading to considerable unrest in the region. He is presently in police Custody. Sheikh’s local supporters had on January 5 attacked a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali, district.
The ED team was there to investigate Sheikh in connection with alleged irregularities in the public distribution system.
The appeal in the Supreme Court has been filed challenging the High Court order directing a CBI probe in the matter as opposed to the ongoing probe by the West Bengal police and is likely to be listed before the CJI on Thursday.
