‘At Ease’ With Bengal Police, ‘On Guard’ With CBI: The 180-Degree Change in Shajahan Sheikh’s Body Language

February 29 – Confident, assured, brazen even. March 6 – Tensed, muted, furtive. The body language of Shajahan Sheikh has undergone a 180-degree change a week since his first court appearance in the custody of Bengal Police to his appearance for a medical check-up in CBI custody.

The suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was handed over to the CBI by West Bengal CID on Wednesday in connection with the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali in January. The CID took him to a state-run hospital for a medical check-up before handing him over to the CBI. The CBI officials later in the night took Sheikh to another medical check-up in their custody.

Sheikh was arrested in a case related to a mob attack on ED officials at Sandeshkhali on January 5 when the central agency had gone to search his premises in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam.

The TMC strongman, who has also been accused of sexual assault and land grab in Sandeshkhali, was arrested on February 29 after being on the run for 55 days. After his arrest, Sheikh was escorted by law enforcement officers to be produced in a Basirhat court.

Sheikh had walked confidently into the court with shoulders hunched up high amid huge security presence as mediapersons jostled to question the man said to be the ‘don of Sandeshkhali’. He donned a white kurta-pyjama and a waist coast, a classic politician’s attire. This reporter managed to put forth one question to him: “Was it you who tortured the people of Sandeshkhali?” Sheikh turned to the reporter and wagged his index finger to signal ‘no’. No words, just a gesture seemed enough for Sheikh to claim innocence.

The opposition had also drawn attention to Sheikh’s body language, alleging he was not bothered about his arrest since he knew he has the backing of TMC leadership. Questions were also raised on why police officials did not hold Sheikh by the hand as is the norm while producing an accused in court.

On Wednesday night, however, it was a completely different story. Before being handed over to the CBI after much drama, Sheikh was taken by the police for routine check-up to a government hospital in Kolkata. On the way back to police headquarters, Sheikh sported a gloomy expression. His face betrayed some tension as he reached the police HQ.

“The tiger of Sandeshkhali has now become a rat. What happened? Is it because now he will face real questions?” asked BJP leader Agnimitra Paul.

Sheikh’s discomfort with the situation was also apparent when he was taken for medical check-up in CBI custody.

While sources in Bengal police say the six-day questioning impressed the gravity of the situation to Sheikh, the opposition attributed the change in his demeanour to the prospect of being questioned by the CBI.