Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the primary accused in the Sandeshkhali case involving allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing, has been apprehended by the police, ending his 55-day evasion. Shahjahan was detained around midnight in the North 24 Parganas district by a specialised Bengal Police unit and subsequently brought to the Basirhat court.
The arrest transpired following a vigilant surveillance of the leader’s movements over many days, as per officials.
This development comes in the wake of a directive from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court three days prior, instructing to include Sheikh Shahjahan in the Sandeshkhali case. On February 26, the High Court Justice insisted upon the necessity of Shahjahan’s apprehension, stating, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”
The ruling Trinamool Congress lauded the arrest, attributing it to the clearance by the court and accusing the Opposition of exploiting the previous restrictions on his arrest.
Conversely, the BJP denounced the arrest as pre-planned and alleged that Shahjahan was under the protective custody of the West Bengal Police.
The Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against Sheikh Shahjahan, with some women demanding justice for alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.
Numerous women in Sandeshkhali have accused Shahjahan and his supporters of land-grabbing and sexual assault under coercion. Shahjahan, who had been evading authorities since January 5, has previously been involved in multitude of criminal cases, including the 2019 murder of three BJP workers.
The Enforcement Directorate has levelled accusations of money laundering against Sheikh Shahjahan in ration and land scams. Additionally, there have been allegations of violence against employees of the power department in West Bengal, resulting in an FIR against him.
The BJP has accused the Mamata Banerjee Government of providing protection to Sheikh Shahjahan after a group of his supporters assaulted an Enforcement Directorate team conducting raids in Sandeshkhali as part of a corruption investigation.
