'Even if 1% true': Calcutta High Court raps Mamata Banerjee govt on Sandeshkhali violence

The Calcutta High Court came down heavily on the West Bengal government on Thursday over the alleged violence against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

Calling the case extremely shameful, the court pulled up the Mamata Banerjee government for allegedly sheilding the primary accused and local leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who was absconding for two months after the matter came to light.

Upon hearing these arguments, Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam expressed strong resentment on the contents of the affidavit placed before the bench.

"The entire district administration and ruling dispensation must owe a moral responsibility. Even if [the affidavit] 1% is true it is absolutely shameful. And West Bengal says it is safest for women? If one affidavit is proved to be right all of this falls," the court stated, according to LiveLaw outlet.

The high court's observations came in response to a public interest litigation seeking an independent probe into the Sandeshkhali case. The court has reserved its order.

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya were hearing the litigations seeking an independent probe.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appearing for the ED sought for the records of all criminal cases against Shiekh to be transferred to the ED, regardless of whether they had been transferred, and the same was objected to by the Advocate General.

Sheikh Shahjahan has been accused of orchestrating an assault on ED officials on January 5 when they went to search the premises of Sheikh at Sarberia village in North 24 Parganas district's Sandeshkhali in connection with a ration distribution scam case, in which a then minister was arrested by the agency.

Jyotipriya Mallick was the state's forest minister when he was arrested and held the Food and Supplies portfolio from 2011 to 2021.

On an order of the Calcutta High Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the assault case, in which Sheikh has been accused of orchestrating the mob attack on the ED officials to prevent them from raiding his premises.

Apart from that he is also accused of money laundering, in which he is alleged to have siphoned money in the garb of the pisciculture business in Sandeshkhali. He is currently under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate till April 13.

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