Sandeshkhali case: Bengal hands over Sheikh Shahjahan to CBI after HC reprimand
Sandeshkhali case: West Bengal Police handed over the custody of suspended Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI on Wednesday, ending a two-day standoff between the Bengal government and the central agency.
Sheikh Shahjahan is the key accused in the Sandeshkhali extortion, land grab, and sexual assault cases.
On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court directed the state to hand over Shahjahan and all case materials to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The state was given until 4.30 p.m. but refused to comply, citing a last-gasp appeal filed with the Supreme Court, which denied an urgent hearing.
When the CBI team arrived at Bengal Police's headquarters in Kolkata, they were forced to leave empty-handed. They were told that Shahjahan would remain in police custody until the Supreme Court's decision.
This afternoon, an irate High Court set a new deadline of 4.15 p.m. The court emphasised the seriousness of the state's disregard for an order issued by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, saying, "Supreme Court has not ordered a stay. So Shahjahan must be handed over to the CBI by 4.15 pm..."
The High Court also issued a notice of contempt and directed the Bengal Police's Criminal Investigation Department, which was in charge of Sheikh Shahjahan, to file an affidavit within two weeks.
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