Post poll violence: Calcutta High Court orders CBI & SIT to submit fresh status reports

  • Gargi Chatterjee
  • 01:29 PM, 08 Nov 2021

Read Time: 04 minutes

A division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Indraprasanna Mukherjee of the Calcutta High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit fresh investigation reports in the 'post-poll violence' cases. A report was submitted on how far the investigation in the case has progressed. According to the court, the report on record is “one month old”.

Additional Solicitor General Y.J. Dastoor appearing for the CBI contended that investigation is underway and that so far, 40 FIRs have been registered so far. In many cases, charge sheets have also been filed, the counsel further submitted. The Court stated that this is according to the previous status report, and that a new report is required.

Priyanka Tibrewal, a public interest litigation lawyer, who has been appearing for petitioners before Calcutta HC in the post poll violence cases, raised the issue of compensation for those who are victims of 'violence'. In this context, Justice Mukherjee said, “Let the investigation be completed first. After that, the issue of compensation can be considered.”

Tibrewal added that some residents of Shyamnagar are still homeless and that they could not even join work. After that, the Chief Justice directed, "A list of those who are still homeless should be made and handed over to the state."

Previouly the Calcutta High Court vide order dated August 19 had directed the State of West Bengal to immediately process the compensation for the victims of the post-poll violence. Opining on such conduct of the State government, the Bench had recorded in its order, "this apparently shows total casual attitude in a serious matter."

The bench was also apprised of the fact no compensation have been made so far, on Monday. To this the Bench directed to wait till the fresh status reports are filed by the SIT and the CBI and further stated that the Court would pass directions regarding compensation after perusal of such status reports.

Case Title: Anindya Sundar Das v. Union of India and other connected matters