The Calcutta High Court delivered a blow to suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, denying his anticipatory bail plea concerning a ration distribution scam case.
Shahjahan’s appeal to the High Court came after a lower court had previously rejected his bail application. The decision was rendered by a division bench comprising Justice Debanshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi.
Representing the political strongman, Advocate Sabyasachi Banerjee contended that the allegations against Shahjahan lacked clarity, pointing out his absence from the FIR filed on December 12, 2023. Banerjee further highlighted that despite multiple raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Shahjahan’s residence, no incriminating evidence was unearthed.
However, ED counsel Dheeraj Trivedi countered this argument, asserting that Shahjahan was implicated in a written statement by another accused, Jyotipriyo Mallick, a former food minister. Trivedi pinpointed towards Shahjahan’s alleged non-cooperation with investigators, citing his failure to respond to summons following the raids.
After careful consideration of both sides’ arguments and scrutinizing the evidence presented, the Calcutta High Court concluded that the ED’s investigation exhibited no deficiencies. Consequently, the court dismissed Shahjahan’s plea for anticipatory bail.
