Kolkata:

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday said India’s Central Bureau of Investigation will probe allegations of extortion, land grabbing and sexual assault leveled by Bengal MP Sandesh Khali ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The investigation by the central agency, which is also investigating a January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate officers that sparked the controversy, will reportedly be subject to court supervision.

“Given the complex nature of the Sandesh Khali affair, there is no doubt that an impartial investigation should be conducted. We believe that the state must provide appropriate support to the agency responsible (whichever)…” High Court Last week, the party criticized the ruling Trinamool Congress, said.

The court last week heard a series of petitions asking outside agencies to investigate a number of troubling allegations from Sandesh Kali Island. The island has been shrouded in anger and controversy after allegations were leveled against Trinamool leader Sheikh Shah Jahan.

The Bengal government was severely reprimanded by a bench led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, who said: “Even if an affidavit is correct… if one per cent is true… it is absolutely shameful.”

Read | ‘If 1% true, 100% disgraceful’: Court rebukes Bangladesh’s Deshkari

The row broke out in January when a group of Shah Jahan’s supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that was raiding houses linked to him. Several police officers were injured.

Shah Jahan went on the run almost immediately when the charges against him and his aides came to light. The man the Trinamool believed was protecting them was then violently attacked and the man was on the run for nearly two months until a court directly ordered the police to arrest him.

This follows controversial remarks by Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, who claimed that the state could not arrest the accused Sheikh Shahkhana as the courts had “tied (the police’s) hands”.

Read | Arrest of Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan: Calcutta High Court

Ahead of the elections, Sandesh Khali has become the focus of attacks by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party against the Trinamool. The ruling party also has to counter the barbs of the Congress party, an ally on paper;

The BJP accused Ms Banerjee of shielding Sheikh Shah Jahan and removed one of the women accused of sexual assault, Rekha Patra, from the Basirhat constituency, which includes Sandeshkari Island) transferred away. Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ms Patra on the phone and called her “Shakti Swaroopa”. “He blessed us… just like Lord Ram…” she told New Delhi TV.

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