A special CBI court recently rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan in connection to a ration distribution scam case.
The court remarked that his custodial interrogation was necessary to probe the charges against him. The Trinamool Congress leader’s counsel Sabyasachi Banerjee pleaded that the house of his client was made a target by the Enforcement Directorate.
The advocate contended that locals got agitated and came out in large numbers with brooms and rods, adding that they did not carry bombs or firearms with them. He stated that the absconding tag put on the leader was not legal. He maintained that Shahjahan is ready to cooperate with the investigation if he is granted anticipatory bail.
The Enforcement Directorate’s counsels Dhiraj Trivedi and Bhaskar Prasad Mukherjee wanted to know whether the anticipatory bail petition and the supplementary affidavit were signed by the same person. The counsel asserted that Shahjahan claims himself a Hindu in the affidavit but it denies merit. Trivedi further pointed out the Trinamool functionary was so active on social media that he could mobilise 800-1,000 people within 15 minutes.
He underlined that according to the FIR by Dildar Box, the caretaker of the house, around 3,000 people had gathered. Trivedi continued that the leader alleged that the officials entered the house and outraged the modesty of women inside. He noted that three ED officers were injured.
Dismissing Shahjahan’s plea, PMLA court judge Prasanta Mukherjee said in his order that in the present case, the accused has neither cooperated with the investigating agency nor he has shown any respect to the rule of law, rather his action shows his clout and arrogance to subvert the rule of law by engaging in violence against the investigating agency.
The Trinamool leader from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, had filed an anticipatory bail petition in the court after a lookout notice was issued against him by the Enforcement Directorate. The nodal agency has once again summoned Sheikh Shahjahan for questioning on February 29.
Reportedly, the Enforcement Directorate also registered a money laundering case against the TMC leader on Friday in connection with the land grabbing allegations. The investigation agency filed a new Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), which is equivalent to an First Information Report (FIR), in the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan has been on the run since January 5, after a mob, which was allegedly affiliated with him, attacked ED officials, who were en route to conduct searches at his premises in connection with the alleged ration distribution scam.
Reportedly, several women in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district have recently accused the TMC leader and his supporters of land-grab and sexual assault under coercion.