BJP slams TMC for not handing over Shahjahan to CBI

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday hit out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal over Sandeshkhali, accusing it of shielding Shahjahan Sheikh, accused of "land grand" and "sexual assault" against women.

"Trinamool Congress government is not Beti Bachao, but Shahjahan Bachao. Yesterday, the Calcutta High Court ruled that the case should be handed over to the CBI and his custody should be remanded to them. They said that he was being protected. The West Bengal police are not properly investigating. Public confidence has been shaken," the BJP spokesperson said.

Accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of defending Shaikh, he said, "Then Mamata defended him in the Assembly, raised questions on the victims (women), and Abhishek Banerjee (TMC general secretary) defended him in the Jan Sabha."

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court transferred the Sandehskhali case to the CBI, which pertains to the attack on ED officials.

The West Bengal government moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order directing a CBI probe into the Sandeshkhali matter, which pertains to the attack on ED officials.

Further attacking the ruling TMC, the BJP spokesperson said, "The way the TMC government approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order, refusing to give his custody... what has happened inside the Sandeshkhali that is so much scaring the Mamata Banerjee government."

Sandeshkhali has been on a boil and witnessed violent protests in recent days over the allegations of "sexual abuse" against Shahjahan Sheikh, who was arrested earlier this week after remaining elusive for over a month.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali have accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion. Tensions have been escalating between the BJP and TMC over Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.

(ANI)