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Synopsis

A division bench of the Supreme Court today refused to entertain the West Bengal government's plea challenging order of CBI probe against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh for attacking officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order. Observations against state police and West Bengal government to be expunged", a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ordered.

Notably, when the case was taken up, court questioned as to why Sheikh was not arrested for so many days.

"High Court order mention 42 FIRs...Why was he not arrested for so long..", the bench asked.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED informed the bench that when ED officials had gone to Shiekh's house in a case involving ration scam, the door was not opened for a long time and the officers were beaten up.

Last week, the West Bengal government had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court order from yesterday directing a CBI probe against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh for attacking officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi had mentioned the plea against today before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. Court went on to ask the senior counsel to mention the plea before Chief Justice of India.

On March 4, the Calcutta High Court had intervened in the ongoing case involving arrested Sheikh, asking the West Bengal Police to 'stay its hands' on the investigation, in relation to the alleged attack on officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by Sheikh's followers.

The court, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam alongside justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, ordered the State Police to halt their investigation into the incident until a decision is made on ‘Whether the State Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should continue the probe’.

On January 5 supporters of Shajahan Sheikh, local leader of the Trinamool Congress, attack a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district. The ED team was there to investigate Sheikh in connection with alleged irregularities in the public distribution system, tied to former state minister Jyoti Priya Mallick. 

Sheikh is also the prime accused in various crimes including sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, leading to considerable unrest in the region. Shahjahan Sheikh remains elusive since the January 5 attack, facing allegations of land grab and sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali. 

A significant number of women in Sandeshkhali have accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him.

Case Title: State of West Bengal vs. ED