Sheikh Shahjahan is an area Trinamool Congress chief (File).
There isn’t a order stopping Bengal Police from arresting Sheikh Shahjahan – the primary accused in sexual assault and land seize allegations from Sandeshkhali – the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom has mentioned.
“We make clear there isn’t a keep on arrest in any continuing. There’s solely a primary info report and he (Shahjahan) has been named as an accused. Clearly he must be arrested,” the courtroom mentioned.
The courtroom’s clarification comes after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee made an astonishing declare Sunday night time – that the Bengal authorities is unable to arrest Shahjahan as a result of the courtroom had “tied the palms the police”.
In feedback slammed by the opposition BJP as “contempt of courtroom”, Mr Banerjee appeared in charge the Excessive Courtroom for delaying the Sandeshkhali inquiries – by staying its order to type a SIT to probe the January 5 assault on the Enforcement Directorate group.
The courtroom was advised at present 43 FIRs have been registered until December final 12 months, of which 42 had resulted in charge-sheets. “So far as grabbing land of tribal neighborhood members, seven circumstances have been began,” the courtroom was advised, “Since February 8, 24 circumstances of land grabbing and numerous sections have been filed.”
To this the courtroom noticed drily, “Shocking no arrests have been made in 4 years.”
On Sunday Mr Banerjee mentioned, “…these calling for Shahjahan’s arrest ought to make an appointment and ask the courtroom why this keep was granted. Was it to make sure Bharatiya Janata Celebration may safe mileage from this incident?” and insisted the Trinamool will not be shielding its on-the-run strongman.
“If the Excessive Courtroom ties palms of state administration (then) what could be accomplished? After the January 5 incident – when it was claimed ED officers have been attacked – the central company filed a grievance and the Excessive Courtroom ordered the structure of a SIT with state police and central businesses.”
“Round 10-12 days later ED appealed for keep within the Excessive Courtroom. The plea was accepted. This implies they didn’t need any investigation, arrest, summons, or interrogation,” Mr Banerjee continued.
“If Excessive Courtroom ties palms of state police, how can they arrest anybody?” he requested once more, pointing to the arrests of Trinamool leaders Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra. “I wish to put this on file… Trinamool will not be guarding Shahjahan. Judiciary is. Carry the keep and see what police does subsequent…” Mr Banerjee mentioned.
The courtroom’s subsequent listening to on this case had been set for March 6
Mr Banerjee additionally mentioned the authorities needed to be given “no less than a month” to make arrests, and referred to the alleged Saradha chit fund rip-off, into which the ED’s inquiries started in 2013. He claimed a “twin coverage” and claimed the state police pressure by no means not get comparable leeway in its investigations.
Critics of the ruling Trinamool have rebutted Mr Banerjee’s arguments, stating the courtroom had not issued a keep on investigative course of, or the arrest of any particular person, together with Sheikh Shahjahan.
Mr Banerjee’s feedback – which got here after Bengal Police arrested celebration chief Ajit Maity on prices of grabbing land from villagers – have been labelled by opposition leaders as contempt of courtroom.
READ | Trinamool Leader Ajit Maity Arrested In Sandeshkhali Land Grab Case
“He isn’t from the Authorities. He’s talking on behalf of his celebration. He’s the shining jewel of the Trinamool Congress. The Trinamool can not take away Shahjahan,” the BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya mentioned.
In the meantime, Mr Banerjee’s assaults didn’t cease with concentrating on the ED and the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom. He additionally took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will maintain three rallies in Bengal in early March; this shall be days earlier than the Election Fee pronounces dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Citing the arrests of Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick – by the ED in July 2022 and October 2023 on cash laundering and corruption prices – Mr Banerjee declared his celebration didn’t “spare” them, in contrast to the BJP, which inducted its former rivals, after typically having “branded them as thieves”.
“That is Modiji‘s assure. All thieves and corrupt folks can be a part of BJP and wash off sins…”
Considerably, the Trinamool chief additionally took swipes at different opposition leaders, together with the CPIM, which is a member of the INDIA bloc and is meant to be an ally of his celebration.
“What have been opposition leaders doing? Until 2016, Sandeshkhali had a CPIM MLA. Why did not they elevate the allegations? Suvendu Adhikari (who was seen as Ms Banerjee’s shut aide earlier than he jumped to the BJP) has pictures with Shahjahan. Why did not he communicate out after leaving Trinamool?”
Mr Banerjee additionally promised to go to Sandeshkhali after the Trinamool’s March 10 rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Floor. He mentioned “I really feel it’s not prudent” to go to the unstable space at the moment.
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