On Monday, the Supreme Court denied interfering with the Calcutta High Court order of a CBI probe into the case related to the attack on the ED team in Sandeshkhali.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta has ordered the removal of remarks and observations made against the state government and police in the March 5 order of the high court.
‘We are therefore not inclined to interfere with the order. As per the directions, we are not inclined to entertain this SLP. However, the observations made about the conduct of police and state government shall stand expunged’, said the bench according to Live Law reports.
The bench noted that the submission of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that he had no objection to the cancellation of the remarks if the final order transferring the probe to CBI remains unchanged.
During the hearing on the West Bengal government’s plea against the Calcutta High Court order directing a CBI investigation in the matter, the bench asked the state: “Why suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh was not arrested for so many days.”
The West Bengal government said in a reply, “There was a stay-on investigation. We went back to court asking a clarification. It was clarified. Within one day, he was arrested.”
The bench also questioned the delayed arrest in the Shahjahan Sheikh case. The advocate representing the government said, “Seven people were arrested. Only one person was not arrested. However, the state police are delaying the investigation. These kinds of allegations are very damaging.”
ASG SV Raju questioned the deficiencies in the state police’s handling of the case. He said, “First, there was no serious effort made by state police to enter the accused’s residence, which was moved quickly from inside. The police refused to obey this order and did not hand over the documents.”
He further stated that there were several cases against him and Shahjahan Sheikh was put down by local police and politicians.
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