The Supreme Court on Monday, (March 11th) declined to intervene in the Calcutta High Court’s decision to transfer the Sandeskhali violence case, involving the assault on officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, presiding over the bench, agreed to remove remarks made against the West Bengal Police in the high court’s ruling.
The Calcutta High Court, on March 5, had directed an independent investigation by the CBI into the incident and instructed the West Bengal Police to transfer the accused mastermind, Sheikh Shahjahan, from the custody of the CID to the CBI on the same day.
In response, the West Bengal government lodged a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, arguing that the High Court’s decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI was made hastily and impeded its right to pursue remedies available under the law.
The Sandeshkhali area, located on the outskirts of the Sunderbans, had been in turmoil for over a month due to accusations against Sheikh and his associates of sexual misconduct and illegal land acquisition. This region falls under the jurisdiction of the Basirhat police district.
