Sandeshkhali Case: SC Rejects Bengal Govt's Plea Against HC Order for CBI Probe

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order directing a CBI investigation into the allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

“Why should the state be interested in protecting someone?” a bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan observed, adding that on the last date of hearing, the counsel appearing for the state said the matter should be adjourned after the apex court asked this specific query.

“Thank you. Dismissed,” the bench said.

The top court was hearing the state government’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 10 order. While hearing the plea on April 29, the SC had asked the West Bengal government why the state should come in as a petitioner for “protecting the interest” of some private individuals.

In its plea before the top court, the state government had said the HC order demoralised the entire state machinery, including the police force. Turning down the appeal, however, the SC said HC observations will not come in the way of the trial.

Responding to the SC dismissal, BJP leader Amit Malviya said this is “another big win for the victims of Sandeshkhali”. He said the women have “defeated” chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha elections and in court as well.

“Another big win for the victims of #Sandeshkhali and a blot on Mamata Banerjee as the Chief Minister of Bengal, who has repeatedly denied gory accounts of rape and sexual assault, unleashed by her henchman Sheikh Shahjahan. Women of Sandeshkhali defeated Mamata Banerjee in elections and now in Court too,” he said in a post on X.

The CBI is already investigating the case of attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali and has registered three FIRs related to incidents on January 5. Noting that the investigation will be monitored by the court, the HC had directed the central agency to file a comprehensive report on the alleged illegal conversion of agricultural land into water bodies for pisciculture after conducting a thorough inspection of revenue records and physical inspection of land alleged to have been converted.

The HC had also directed the CBI to probe allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali and submit a comprehensive report to it on the next date of hearing. It had also directed that the custody of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who was arrested on February 29 in connection with the attack on ED officials, be handed over to the CBI.

(With PTI inputs)