Calcutta High Court has ordered West Bengal police to hand over Sandeshkhali

accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Shajahan Sheikh to CBI. The Calcutta
High Court also directed the transfer of probe into attack on Enforcement Directorate
officials at  Sandeshkhali  to Central Bureau of Investigation.
A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed that the directions
be complied with by 4.30 pm on Tuesday.

Both the federal agency and the West Bengal government moved separate appeals
challenging a single bench order which on January 17 ordered formation of a
joint special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and the state police to probe the mob
attack on the Enforcement Directorate officials.
Shajahan Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal police on February 29 in connection
with the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials. The TMC strongman is accused of
alleged land-grabbing and sexual atrocities in  Sandeshkhali .
Court directs that process should be complied by 4.30 pm tomorrow
A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed that the directions
be complied with by 4.30 pm on Tuesday.
Both the ED and the West Bengal government moved separate appeals challenging a
single bench order which on January 17 ordered formation of a joint special
investigation team (SIT) of the CBI and the state police to probe the mob attack on the
ED officials.
While the ED wanted the probe to be transferred to the CBI only, the state prayed that
the investigation be given to the state police only.
In the transfer application, alleging that the state police was biased, Additional Solicitor
General SV Raju submitted that they purposely arrested Shajahan Sheikh in a case by
the ED on the attack on its officials by a nearly 1,000-strong mob on January 5
at  Sandeshkhali , even though more than 40 other cases are pending against him for
years.
The TMC leader was arrested by police on February 29, a day after the high court
ordered that Sheikh, the main accused in alleged sexual atrocities on women and land
grabbing at  Sandeshkhali , can be arrested by the CBI, the ED or the West Bengal
Police.
Immediately after his arrest, Sheikh was suspended by the TMC for six years. He was
the party convenor of the Sandeshkhali assembly constituency and was also a member
of the TMC-held North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad. Several local women in
Sandeshkhali have claimed that TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his "gang" captured
swathes of land by force, besides "sexually harassing" them.

A fact-finding report was prepared by the National Commission for Women that said that
it has gathered disturbing testimonies of women having widespread fear and alleging
systematic abuse by both police officers and members of the ruling Trinamool
Congress.
West Bengal Govt moves Supreme Court
West Bengal Govt moved the Supreme Court of India against Calcutta High Court order
directing CBI probe in Sandeshkhali matter. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi
mentioned the plea before the Supreme Court on Tuesday. SC asked the advocate to
mention it before the registrar general of the apex court.