Sandeshkhali: Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe

The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in connection with the killing of three BJP workers in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in 2019.

A single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta directed the federal agency to set up a special investigation team and probe the June 2019 killing of Pradip Mondal, Debdas Mondal and Sukanta Mondal. One of the main accused in the case is Sheikh Shahjahan, a local heavyweight and Trinamool Congress leader. Shahjahan, currently in judicial custody, was arrested for assault of Enforcement Directorate officials and CAPF personnel in January 2024. Shahjahan is also an accused in the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal, sexual harassment of women, and illegal land grabbing at Sandeshkhali.

Reacting to the court order, leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, said the order once again proves that the ruling Trinamool Congress and a section in the administration had been protecting criminals.