The West Bengal government immediately sought a hearing in the Supreme Court to challenge the Calcutta High Court’s decision to conduct a CBI probe into the Sandesh Khali case. The incident was related to the attack on the Police Directorate (ED) chief in Sandeshkhali on January 5 this year. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi spoke of urgency and stated that the high court wanted the interim order to be implemented. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna asked Singhvi to approach the Chief Justice of India to file a plea.
The West Bengal government on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court’s order seeking a CBI probe into the Sandeshkhali case. The incident was related to the attack on emergency service officials of North 24 Parganas district during a protest at the residence of former Bongaon Mayor Shankar Adhya and Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. The attack is part of a “fraud” investigation.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi appealed to the Supreme Court. After weeks of inaction, the Calcutta High Court had earlier handed over the Sandeshkari case to the CBI. On February 29, TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested by the West Bengal police. The Basirhat court in West Bengal sent him to police custody for 10 days. The arrests sparked unrest in Sandesh Khali, where Shah Jahan Sheikh is accused of abusing hundreds of women on the island and other crimes.
The Supreme Court’s direction to the Chief Justice of India shows the importance of expediting the hearing at the request of the West Bengal government. . In a major legal development and investigation, the case saw the Supreme Court handing over the case to the CBI and the state police arresting Sheikh Shah Jahan after weeks of inaction. The Supreme Court’s interim decision stating urgency must be complied with immediately.
The relationship between state government, law enforcement, and the judiciary complicates legal issues and highlights the need for quick resolution. The Supreme Court’s conclusions could impact future investigation into Sandesh Khali’s work by clarifying due process and accountability.
