Kolkata: The West Bengal government has taken a significant legal step by approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the Calcutta High Court's directive for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Sandeshkhali incident. This matter revolves around the assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials earlier this year.

In January, ED officials faced an attack in the North 24 Parganas district while en route to conduct raids on the residences of former Bongaon Municipality chairman Shankar Adhya and Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan regarding the alleged ration 'scam'.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised the plea before a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna in the Supreme Court. However, the apex court directed him to bring the matter before the registrar general for further consideration.

Previously, the Calcutta High Court had transferred the Sandeshkhali case to the CBI, specifically addressing the assault on ED officials. Shahjahan was subsequently arrested by the West Bengal police last week from the North 24 Parganas district in connection with this incident.

Following Shahjahan's arrest, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized the state government and police, alleging that Shahjahan was being sheltered by the state police to avoid arrest by the ED and CBI.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi remarked that Shahjahan's sudden arrest, after being missing for nearly two months, lacked charges related to alleged atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali. Trivedi suggested that the arrest was prompted by pressure from the high court and public outcry, rather than genuine legal proceedings.

The Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against Sheikh Shahjahan since February. Several women in the region have accused Shahjahan and his associates of land-grabbing and sexual assault, leading to ongoing demands for justice.

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