Calcutta HC orders CBI probe into post-poll violence in Bengal

A five-judge bench also ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all other offences

Security personnel keep vigil at a polling station after Election Commission ordered of stopping the voting exercise at polling station number 126 in Sitalkuchi, where clashes erupted between locals and central forces. Credit: PTI File Photo

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI investigation into the cases of murder and rape related to post-poll violence in West Bengal. The five-judge bench of the High Court also ordered that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up to investigate the other cases related to post-poll violence. The bench in its order made it clear that both the investigations will be monitored by the court.

Earlier a committee set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its report submitted to the High Court recommended that the cases of post-poll be investigated by the CBI.

“ All the cases where as per the report of the Committee, the allegations are about murder of a person and crime against women regarding rape/attempt to rape, shall be referred to CBI for investigation,” stated the order.

It further stated that the Committee, NHRC, any other Commission or authority or the State Government “will immediately hand over the entire record of cases” handed over to the CBI for investigation.

“ It is made clear that it shall be a court-monitored investigation. Any obstruction in the course of investigation by anyone shall be received seriously,” stated the order.

The bench stated that the SIT shall be headed by IPS officers Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar. It further stated that the investigation of the SIT shall be overviewed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court.

It ordered that the state government shall not take “any adverse action” against the members of the SIT without permission from the court.

“As the core issue regarding post-poll violence and the action required to be taken thereon has been resolved with the directions for proper investigation of cases by the CBI and the SIT as referred to above, the matters shall now be placed before the Division Bench for dealing with other issues in the report and further proceedings ,” stated the order.

The High Court instructed the Bengal government to take “immediate action to pay compensation to the victims of post-poll violence" as per its policy.