CBI chargesheet against Sheikh Shahjahan and six others

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against seven persons, including suspended Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan, in connection with the attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in Sandeshkhali on January 5, people in the know said on Tuesday.

The chargesheet was filed in the Basirhat Court in North 24 Parganas, officials said. This is the first chargesheet filed by the agency in the case. "Investigation in the case revealed that Shahjahan Sheikh was the key conspirator behind the incident that occurred on January 5, 2024, in which ED officials were attacked when they went to conduct a search at his residential and official premises in a case on allegations of money laundering related to proceeds of crime generated from irregularities in procurement, processing/ milling/ fortification and distribution of ration through PDS scheme," the probe agency said in a statement. "As per the investigation so far, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the accused under different sections of IPC and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act," it said.

The ED team was attacked by a huge mob when they went to raid the house of Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam in Bengal.