SC rejects Bengal govt plea challenging Calcutta HC order directing CBI probe into Sandeshkhali issue

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the West Bengal government against a direction to transfer the probe to the CBI into charges of mass sexual exploitation of women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, allegedly by a suspended TMC party member Sheikh Shahjahan and others.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Vishwanathan, however, clarified that the observations made by the High Court would not affect the trial court proceedings and future remedies available in the law.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, submitted that a 42-page charge sheet was filed by the state police and women police personnel were deployed over there. He questioned the High Court's order directing the CBI probe into 43 FIRs.

He contended that the issue should not be blown out of proportion for political reasons.

The bench, however, told, "You don't act or do anything for months."

On April 29, the bench had asked the West Bengal government, "Why should the State file a petition to protect some private entitles?"

The Calcutta High Court had on April 10, 2024 ordered for the CBI probe into charges of sexual exploitation of women and land grabbing made against suspended TMC leader Shahjahan and others in Sandeshkhali in Bashirhat Subdivision of North 24 Parganas district.

It claimed the HC failed to notice the PILs were filed by the interested parties with oblique political motives. It had contended the HC also ignored 43 FIRs were filed by the police, in 42 cases, chargesheets have been filed under various penal sections including Section 376 IPC. In seven cases of land grabbing, charge sheets have been filed on February 8, 2024, apart from 24 cases of land grabbing having been registered by the state police.

Widespread protests were witnessed in Sandeshkhali since February 7, 2024, alleging molestation, rape and land grabbing against TMC leader Sheikh Sahajahan and his associates, Shibu Hazra and Sushanta Sardar alias Uttam Sardar.