West Bengal Police arrested Shahjahan Sheikh, Trinamool Congress leader, accused of sexual violence and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. He had been on the run for the last 55 days and was arrested early this morning.
Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates are prime accused in sexual violence case that surfaced following violent protests in Sandeshkhali. He has been on run since January 5th after a team of ED officials were attacked by his supporters near his residence.
The police said that Shahjahan was arrested post midnight from the North 24 Parganas district. He was then brought to Basirhat court after his arrest and is presently being held there in the court’s lock-up.
Political Reactions-
TMC’s National General, Saket Gokhale posted on X-
“As our Natl Gen Sec had rightly pointed out – it was Calcutta HC stay order that had restrained the police. We had also committed that Sheikh Shahjahan would be arrested WITHIN DAYS if the Hon’ble HC freed the hands of the police. On 26th Feb, the HC clarified that WB Police can arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. And today, in less than 72 hours, he has been arrested by West Bengal Police.”
He further said that despite multiple protests BJP has still not arrested Brij Bhushan Sharan.
On the other hand, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh demanded the arrest of Suvendhu Adhikari.
Meanwhile, the BJP connected the arrest to the party’s ongoing protests about the issue.
Sukanta Majumdar of the West Bengal BJP stated, “This government was compelled to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan due to the continuous agitation by the BJP.” He said that the administration was in a state of denial. They were refusing to even acknowledge that anything had occurred. We would force the administration to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, as I had previously stated. Today, Mamata Banerjee and the government were forced to arrest him because of the BJP’s and the women’s agitation in Sandeshkhali.
However on Monday, the Calcutta High Court had made it clear that there was no stay on Sheikh’s arrest. Rather, the court only stayed a February 7th judge’s order to form a Special Investigation Team in order to look into claims that ED officers were attacked while attempting to raid Sheikh’s residence (on January 5). The bench slammed the state administration during the hearing for not apprehending Sheikh for over 50 days.
High Court Declined urgent Listing-
When presented before the Calcutta High Court, the court declined an urgent bail plea after learning that Shahjahan Sheikh has been taken into custody. The bench remarked-
“Let him be arrested. For the next 10 years, this person will keep you very busy. You won’t have any time for any other brief. 42 cases have been registered against him, he had been absconding as well. You come on Monday. Anything you want you come on Monday, we have got no sympathy for that person.”