Sandeshkhali’s Sheikh Shahjahan Transferred to the CBI following a Calcutta High Court verdict

The West Bengal police on Wednesday transferred the custody of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI. This came hours after the Calcutta High Court had directed the Bengal government to transfer Sheikh Shahjahan’s custody and the case materials to the central agency by 4:15 pm. Shahjhan was transferred to the central agency after a medical examination late Wednesday evening, surpassing the 4:15 pm deadline set by the Calcutta High Court.

Despite a Calcutta High Court directive on Tuesday, the West Bengal government declined to transfer the custody of the suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan into the custody of the CBI. In its ruling, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday pulled up the state police for downplaying the situation, as the suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan was only arrested after being at large for over 50 days. "There can be no better case than this, which requires to be transferred and to be investigated by the CBI," observed the Calcutta HC, ordering the transfer of Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI to ensure a "fair, honest, and complete investigation."The state approached the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta HC's order and refused to transfer the custody of Sheikh Shahjahan until the top court passes its ruling.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined the West Bengal government’s plea; the Calcutta High court thereafter upheld its previous verdict and directed the transfer of Sheikh Shahjahan to the central agency by 4:15 pm. The transfer of Sheikh Shahjhan to the central agency was delayed beyond the Calcutta High Court's specified 4:15 pm deadline; the suspended Trinamool Congress leader underwent a medical test before being handed over to the CBI later in the evening.

Sandeshkhali has been on the spot since Enforcement Directorate officials were met with violent resistance from Sheikh Shahjahan's supporters during their attempt to raid his residence in the village. Subsequently, women from the village alleged that the suspended Trinamool Congress leader, along with his associates Sibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, engaged in land grabbing and coercive sexual assaults and hit the streets demanding their arrest. Shahjahan was eventually apprehended by Bengal police on February 29, following over 50 days of evading arrest.

The Sandeshkhali incident evolved into a political showdown as the BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of shielding Sheikh Shahjahan. “TMC has committed a grave sin. Instead of punishing the culprits, they are trying to shield them in court. But after the High Court, the TMC government has received another jolt in the Supreme Court. What has happened with the women of Shandeshkhali has shamed everyone,” said PM Modi during his public address in Bengal’s Barasat where he met with the women of Sandeshkhali.