Sheikh Shahjahan is absconding after a mob attacked a team of ED officers
Kolkata:
Coming down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee government over the situation in Sandeshkhali, the Calcutta High Court today said local Trinamool Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan “cannot remain on the run” and “the state cannot support him”.
Hearing BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s plea for permission to visit Sandeshkhali, Chief Justice TS Sivaganam said the court has taken note of the allegations made by the women on the island. “We have seen complaints, women of the area have raised issues, some land has been captured. This person (Sheikh Shahjahan) cannot run away. The state cannot support this. In the suo motu case, we will ask Live Law Accordingly, the Chief Justice said, “He will have to surrender here. He cannot disregard the law.”
He said, “If a person can hold the entire population hostage for ransom, then the ruling government should not support him. He is just a representative of the public. He is bound to do good to the public.”
The Chief Justice said that “prima facie material” showed that Shahjahan had “caused harm to the public”. He said, “He is on the run after committing the alleged crime. We don’t know whether he has got security or not, but he may not be secured. This could mean that the state police is not able to secure him.” , or that is outside their jurisdiction.”
Questioning the decision to impose prohibitory orders when Shahjahan was absconding, the court told the state government counsel, “You are just creating a tense situation. You are unnecessarily harassing the local people. Like in Covid “People were going into depression because they were limited.” In their homes. Let people speak. Just because people say something does not make the accused guilty. If you turn them off, it won’t work.”
The state government had challenged the court order to stay the prohibitory orders in the area citing law and order situation. The state counsel said he was not opposed to local people or constitutional officials visiting the area, but feared that visits by political leaders could create trouble.
Shahjahan has been absconding for a month after a mob attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that had gone to raid his house near Sandeshkhali in a corruption case. Over the past few weeks, local residents have started leveling allegations of land grabbing and extortion against the Trinamool strongman and his associates. The BJP has also accused ruling party leaders of sexual harassment of women in Sandeshkhali. A total of 17 people including Shahjahan’s associates Uttam Sarkar and Shibu Hazra have been arrested.
The Trinamool Congress government has accused the BJP of spreading unrest in the area. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that BJP workers were taken to the island to incite violence. He has said, “The primary target was Sheikh and the ED entered the area. Then they ousted everyone from there and created a war of tribals versus minorities.” “This is nothing new. RSS has its base there. There were riots there 7-8 years ago. It is one of the most sensitive riot sites,” he said.
The High Court today said Bengal Police has been unable to arrest Shahjahan despite multiple cases against him and attacks on ED officials. The Chief Justice said, “It is surprising that the person who is the root of the problem has not been caught till date and is on the run.”
The court has now allowed Mr Adhikari and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh to visit the island, upholding the single bench order which had approved their travel. Despite the order, this morning BJP leaders were stopped on their way to Sandeshkhali.
