TMC suspends Shajahan Sheikh from party for six years

Hours after his arrest, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended strongman Shajahan Sheikh for six years. In a press briefing, TMC leader Derek O’Brien dared the BJP to act against its tainted leaders such as former wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan.

"There are two types of parties, One type of political party does only talk, while the TMC walks the talk," O’Brien said while referring to the BJP.

Sheikh was arrested earlier in the day from a house in Bamanpukur in Minakhan police station area, around 30 km away from the island of Sandeshkhali on the outskirts of Sunderbans, in North 24 Parganas district.

Sheikh was hiding in the house along with a few associates, police said.

After the arrest, he was taken to the Basirhat court, which sent him to 10 days in police custody.

Sheikh, who has been at the centre of a massive political firestorm, came out of the lock-up around 10.40 am dressed in white kurta-pajama, and walked to the courtroom with policemen behind him. He also made a gesture with his hand at the media contingent waiting there.

After the hearing, which lasted for barely two minutes, he returned to the lock-up. Later, police whisked him away to an undisclosed destination.

Sheikh was taken into custody within 24 hours of the Calcutta High Court stating that the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police can arrest him.

(With PTI inputs)

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