The Supreme Court on Monday questioned why the West Bengal government was opposing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh in the Sandeshkhali case. [State of West Bengal vs High Court at Calcutta through its Registrar General]A Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta raised the query after Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi for West Bengal requested two to three weeks to place some more information in the matter."Why should State file SLP against CBI looking into allegations against a private person? Anyways we will adjourn; it will be more conducive to hear this then (after elections)," the Court said,The matter was ultimately adjourned to July after Singhvi stated that the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court won't be cited in cases before the Calcutta High Court.Singhvi made the statement after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta expressed apprehension regarding the same.The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by West Bengal opposing CBI probe into allegations of sexual assault and forcible land grabbing by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh.The Calcutta High Court had on April 10 transferred the probe into allegations of sexual assault and forcible land grabbing by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The order by a Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya came on a suo motu case.The High Court had also refused to appoint an Enquiry Committee headed by a former High Court judge.This led to the instant appeal by the State of West Bengal before the Supreme Court.The High Court was hearing a case concerning unrest in Sandeshkhalli following the allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing in the area.Sheikh was eventually arrested by the West Bengal Police after being on the run for around 55 days.The High Court in its ruling had directed the CBI to ensure confidentiality of the complainants and ordered the agency to create a dedicated portal/email ID to lodge complaints.The District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas was ordered to give adequate publicity regarding the same.Sheikh had earlier drawn controversy on allegations that he was behind a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers in January this year, while they were en route to raid his residence as part of a ration scam probe.The Calcutta High Court on March 5 transferred the probe into the attack on the ED officers to the CBI, which the apex court upheld.Along with SG Mehta, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati appeared for CBI.Along with Dr Singhvi, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta appeared for the West Bengal government.
TAGS: Supreme Court West Bengal government CBI probe Sandeshkhali case Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh sexual assault
