New Delhi:

Hours after he was arrested in connection with a mob attack on a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials last month, dressed in white shirt, white trousers and a gray jacket, powerful Sandeshkhali leader Sheikh Shahjahan walked into a West Bengal police station this morning. Reached the court. As he entered the court, followed by policemen, his body language was abusive and he shook his fingers at media persons asking questions.

Shahjahan, who has been absconding for 55 days, is at the center of serious allegations made by residents of Sandeshkhali, an island in Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. The senior Trinamool leader and his associates have been accused of land grabbing, extortion and threats. Allegations of sexual harassment have also come to light.

The Bengal Police, which arrested Shahjahan yesterday, has said that the Calcutta High Court order has tied their hands. The court had later clarified that it had not stopped the state police or the ED or the CBI from arresting him.

Speaking to the media, senior Bengal police officer Supratim Sarkar questioned why the central agency did not arrest Shahjahan.

ED sources have hit back, alleging that the speed with which the powerful leader was arrested showed that Shahjahan was with him.

“The High Court gave clarification and Shahjahan was immediately arrested. This proved that he was with them. The court had stopped the proceedings in one case. But why was Sheikh Shahjahan arrested despite his name appearing in three murder cases? Not done. He also faced a non-bailable warrant in connection with the attack on electricity department officials, an ED official said. “Why was he not arrested despite allegations of sexual harassment and land grabbing?”

On January 5, a huge mob attacked the ED team that had gone to raid Shahjahan’s house in connection with irregularities in ration distribution.

“We had information that there was a huge amount of weapons and cash worth crores at his house. That is why a mob attack was organized and Shahjahan was helped to escape. The role of Bengal Police and the government in hiding Shahjahan’s weapons, cash and cash. Phone There should be an investigation,” the officer said.

The ED official said custodial interrogation of the powerful man is needed to get to the bottom of the allegations of alleged ration distribution scam and land grab. We are keeping an eye on the activities of Bengal Police.

Reacting sharply to the allegations against Shahjahan and his associates, the ruling Trinamool Congress had said a High Court order was hindering the state police from taking action against the powerful leader.

“If the High Court ties the hands of the state administration (then) what can be done? After the January 5 incident – when it was claimed that ED officials were attacked – the central agency filed a complaint and the High Court Ordered formation of an SIT along with state police and central agencies,” Trinamool MP and general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Sunday.

“About 10-12 days later, the ED appealed to the High Court for a stay. The plea was accepted. It means they did not want any investigation, arrest, summons or interrogation,” he said. The Trinamool leader, who is the nephew of party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had insisted that the state government was not protecting the powerful leader. He pointed to the arrest of Shahjahan’s associates Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra.

The court later clarified that it had not stopped the state police from arresting the powerful man. The court had said, “We make it clear that there is no stay of arrest in any proceedings. There is only a First Information Report and he (Shahjahan) has been named as an accused. He is absconding. Apparently He needs to be arrested.”