Shahjahan Sheikh has been taken into custody by the CBI
Shahjahan Sheikh has been taken into custody by the CBI following an order from the High Court in the Sandeshkhali ED attack case
Sheikh was arrested by West Bengal Police on February 29 for attacking ED officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5 while they were on their way to raid his house in connection with an alleged ration scam case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took custody of Shahjahan Sheikh, the accused in the Sandeshkhali ED official attack case, following a fresh directive from the Calcutta High Court earlier today. Sheikh was transferred to CBI custody at approximately 6.45 pm.
The high court reiterated its order for the West Bengal administration to hand over the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader to the CBI by 4.15 pm. Subsequently, a team of CBI officials arrived at Bhawani Bhawan before 4 pm.
Prior to handing over custody, the West Bengal CID sent Sheikh to SSKM hospital for a medical check-up. Upon his return to Bhabani Bhawan, the police headquarters, the CBI assumed custody of Shahjahan.
On Tuesday, a division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam had instructed the police to transfer Sheikh’s custody to the CBI. However, the state government appealed to the Supreme Court, and the police declined to hand over Sheikh’s custody, citing the matter as sub-judice.
Sheikh was apprehended by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali on January 5 while they were en route to raid his residence in an alleged ration scam case.
On Wednesday morning, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, requested a Supreme Court bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna to consider the plea, but the bench declined.
Subsequently, the CBI filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court. The state government indicated that it would submit a special leave petition (SLP) to the Supreme Court and Sheikh would not be handed over until then. Nevertheless, the division bench mandated that Sheikh be transferred to CBI custody by 4.15 pm on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the CBI lodged three FIRs on Tuesday – one regarding the assault on ED officials at Sheikh’s residence in Sandeshkhali, another concerning the attack on ED officials at Sarberia in North 24 Parganas district, and a third FIR related to the assault on the ED team at TMC leader Shankar Adhya’s residence.
On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court directed the transfer of the investigation into the January 5 attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali, as well as the custody of Sheikh, to the CBI, criticizing the West Bengal Police for being “completely biased”.
The division bench of Calcutta HC Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya also overturned a previous single-bench ruling that had called for the establishment of a joint special investigation team comprising the CBI and state police to investigate the attack.
