Calcutta HC orders CBI to do extensive investigation against women, land grabbing in Sandeshkhali

 The court mandated the establishment of a dedicated portal and email address for receiving complaints

Digital Desk: The Calcutta High Court has mandated a special investigation team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to delve into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. 

The decision, rendered by the division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, emerged from a suo motu motion and petitions seeking the transfer of investigation from local authorities to the CBI. The high court underscored the imperative for state officials to fully cooperate with the federal agency. 

The main accused, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, along with two TMC-run zilla parishad members, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra, have already been arrested by state law enforcement. Shahjahan, who escaped capture 55 days before his arrest on February 28, is currently under Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody following CBI interrogation according to the high court's orders. 

The court's purview now extends beyond a previous directive to investigate an alleged assault on ED officers, encompassing additional charges of extortion, land grabbing, and sexual exploitation. This expansion responds to grievances voiced by Sandeshkhali residents, who claim that TMC leaders used their land for saltwater fisheries, rendering the soil unsuitable for agriculture. 

The court mandated the establishment of a dedicated portal and email address for receiving complaints, empowering the CBI to summon state government officers and institute a comprehensive investigation. 

Meanwhile, the court issued directives for enhanced security measures, including the immediate installation of security cameras and streetlights across Sandeshkhali. 

The decision coincided with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's condemnation of the TMC government's handling of the Sandeshkhali situation during a BJP campaign rally in Balurghat, north Bengal. While BJP leaders hailed the court's ruling as historic, TMC officials expressed scepticism, suggesting that a CBI inquiry might prolong the quest for justice.