NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the killing of three BJP workers Pradeep Mondal, Devdas Mondal, and Sukanta Mondal during the 2019 post-poll violence in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal.
Acting on the June 30 order of the Calcutta high court, the agency registered an FIR against former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and the alleged prime accused, Sheikh Shahjahan , officials said on Saturday.
According to PTI, Justice Joy Sengupta of the Calcutta high court directed the CBI to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct the probe with "utmost seriousness", under the supervision of a joint director.
The victims were allegedly killed in an attack on their village in Sandeshkhali, reportedly led by Sheikh. The case was initially investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. However, the families of the deceased later petitioned the court for a CBI investigation , citing lack of progress and impartiality.
Sheikh, a key figure in the case, has been in judicial custody since January 5, 2024, after his arrest in a separate case related to the alleged assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at his residence in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam.
“In the present case too, which has even more serious charges, I find that the police failed to take action against the prime accused at different stages, leading to gross miscarriage of justice,” Justice Sengupta noted while transferring the investigation to the CBI.
He further observed that the state police seem to falter when allegations are levelled against Sheikh. “In this, no distinction can be made between the local police (as in the said earlier case) or the CID (as in the present case),” the court said.
Several women in Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district about 80 km from Kolkata, have also accused Sheikh and his associates of land grabbing and sexual abuse. The accused are said to be involved in fish farming and trading in the area.
The CBI is already investigating three separate cases related to the January 2024 attack on the ED team during their raid at Sheikh’s residence. PTI inputs confirm that in that incident, ED officers were allegedly assaulted and their vehicles damaged.
(With inputs from news agency PTI)
Acting on the June 30 order of the Calcutta high court, the agency registered an FIR against former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and the alleged prime accused, Sheikh Shahjahan , officials said on Saturday.
According to PTI, Justice Joy Sengupta of the Calcutta high court directed the CBI to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct the probe with "utmost seriousness", under the supervision of a joint director.
The victims were allegedly killed in an attack on their village in Sandeshkhali, reportedly led by Sheikh. The case was initially investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police. However, the families of the deceased later petitioned the court for a CBI investigation , citing lack of progress and impartiality.
Sheikh, a key figure in the case, has been in judicial custody since January 5, 2024, after his arrest in a separate case related to the alleged assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at his residence in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam.
“In the present case too, which has even more serious charges, I find that the police failed to take action against the prime accused at different stages, leading to gross miscarriage of justice,” Justice Sengupta noted while transferring the investigation to the CBI.
He further observed that the state police seem to falter when allegations are levelled against Sheikh. “In this, no distinction can be made between the local police (as in the said earlier case) or the CID (as in the present case),” the court said.
Several women in Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district about 80 km from Kolkata, have also accused Sheikh and his associates of land grabbing and sexual abuse. The accused are said to be involved in fish farming and trading in the area.
The CBI is already investigating three separate cases related to the January 2024 attack on the ED team during their raid at Sheikh’s residence. PTI inputs confirm that in that incident, ED officers were allegedly assaulted and their vehicles damaged.
(With inputs from news agency PTI)
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