Calcutta HC directs Bengal CID to handover Shajahan Sheikh to CBI today

Kolkata: Issuing a contempt notice to the West Bengal Crime Investigation Department, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday asked the CID to hand over the custody of Shahjahan Sheikh, the former Trinamool strongman accused of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali to the CBI by today.

The custody of the accused Shahjahan Sheikh should be handed over to CBI by 4.30 pm on Wednesday, the court said.

Calcutta High Court also observed that state police have played hide and seek in the matter.

“The accused is a highly political influencer. The investigation should be handed over to CBI and the custody of the accused by 4:15 pm today,” the High Court said.

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."

(ANI)