West Bengal Govt. Refuses to Transfer Sheikh Shahjahan's Custody to the CBI, Moves Supreme 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. The state has 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 Calcutta High Court had directed the state police to transfer the custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to the CBI in connection with the attack on Enforcement Directorate officers in Sandeshkhali on January 5, by 4:30 pm on Tuesday. However, a CBI team arrived at Bhabani Bhawan, the West Bengal Police Headquarters, to take custody of Shahjahan but returned without him.

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 West Bengal government in response to the High Court's order to transfer the probe to the CBI approached the Supreme Court. The West Bengal government's request for an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court was rejected. Instead, the court instructed the state to present its appeal before the Registrar-General. While The West Bengal government's request for an urgent hearing in the Supreme Court was rejected. Instead, the court instructed the state to present its appeal before the Registrar-General. While the Enforcement Directorate has appealed to transfer the case to the CBI, the state government continues to rally around the demand for the Bengal police to retain jurisdiction over the investigation.

Enforcement Directorate officers were attacked by the supporters of Sheikh Shahjahan while they were on their way to raid his Sandeshkali residence. Soon after, the women of the village accused the suspended Trinamool Congress leader and his aides Sibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar of land grab and sexual assault under coercion. The Sandeshkhali issue further snowballed into a political slugfest after the BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of "protecting" the then-absconding Sheikh Shahjahan. However, Shahja was arrested by the Bengal police on February 29, over 50 days after being at large.​