The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday initiated questioning of Sandeshkhali strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. The interrogation was carried out by the CBI’s Kolkata ACB Unit, which was led by SPs Gaurav Singh and Umesh Kumar. The most recent growth comes after the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom set a brand new deadline for Bengal police at hand over Shahjahan to the central company on Wednesday, including one other twist to the continuing custody dispute.
A bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya ordered Bengal police at hand over Shahjahan’s custody to the CBI by 4.15 PM yesterday (March 6).
Earlier this week, the excessive courtroom ordered Bengal police at hand over the expelled Trinamool Congress chief to the CBI by 4:30 p.m. The Mamata Banerjee authorities filed a Supreme Courtroom problem to the ruling. When a CBI crew arrived to take Shahjahan into custody yesterday, they have been knowledgeable that the case was earlier than the Supreme Courtroom. The Supreme Courtroom, nonetheless, denied the Bengal authorities’s request for an pressing listening to.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had approached the excessive courtroom in opposition to the Bengal police, claiming that the Supreme Courtroom had not but heard the state authorities’s petition and that there was no pause within the excessive courtroom’s ruling yesterday. The ED has additionally sought motion in opposition to officers from Bengal’s Legal Investigation Division for failing to observe the excessive courtroom’s orders.
CBI Grills Sandeshkhali Strongman. All Particulars Right here:
- For the reason that taking on the custody, CBI has not carried out any inquiry with Sheikh Shahjahan till now. The main focus, till this level, was solely on finishing paperwork.
- After the central company took over his custody, Shahjahan constantly cited “in poor health well being” to the CBI. Nevertheless, no well being points have been discovered within the medical examination, in keeping with the knowledge that CBI shared after Shahjahan’s examination.
- Preparations for questioning Shahjahan have been made the earlier evening, however on account of repeated claims of “in poor health well being”, he was allowed to relaxation by the evening. The CBI has now commenced questioning him simply a short time in the past.
- CBI’s main inquiry revolves round figuring out the individual Shahjahan referred to as on the day of the ED assault. When the ED crew reached Shahjahan Sheikh’s location on the day of the assault, each of his cell numbers (9732634790 and 9733804506) have been repeatedly engaged, and after some time, one quantity went off.
- Nevertheless, the essential query stays in regards to the id of the individual Shahjahan Sheikh was conversing with, as instantly, a crowd of 800 to 1000 folks armed with sticks and stones attacked the ED crew inside 10 minutes.
- The interrogation has commenced, and all particulars shall be formally recorded. Written responses from Shahjahan shall be obtained for the questions posed throughout the inquiry.
Sheikh Shahjahan is on the centre of the political uproar over Sandeshkhali area in Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Residents of the island have accused Shahjahan and his associates of harassment, land grabbing, and extortion.
The strongman first made headlines in January when an Enforcement Directorate crew was attacked by a mob whereas conducting a raid on his properties. He evaded arrest for 52 days earlier than being apprehended by Bengal police. The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress of defending the strongman and has acknowledged that solely a probe by central businesses will guarantee justice for the folks of Sandeshkhali.
Shahjahan has been expelled from the Trinamool celebration for six years. Responding to the BJP cost, it has questioned why central businesses have been unable to arrest the strongman for therefore lengthy.