Bengal Government Challenges CBI Probe Into Sandeshkhali Case in Supreme Court

Hours after the CBI conducted a raid on hideouts connected to suspects in the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team, the Trinamool leader, who had been on the run for nearly two months following the incident in which ED officials were injured, was eventually arrested on February 29, 2004. The attack on the ED team had sparked a political controversy, with the BJP and the Congress criticizing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government for the delay in arresting Sheikh Shahjahan. The BJP accused the Trinamool of shielding Shahjahan, who was arrested only after the High Court’s explicit direction.

In response, the Trinamool highlighted the allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh, a sitting BJP MP accused of sexual assault by women wrestlers. The political tension escalated further when the Bengal government received a stern reprimand from the state’s High Court, which emphasized the state’s accountability in investigating the Sandeshkhali allegations. This development occurred earlier in the month.

These events unfolded amidst the context of the impending general election, intensifying the rivalry between political parties. The intense scrutiny and exchanges between the parties underscored the political significance of the case and its potential impact on the electoral landscape. In the aftermath of the ED team attack and the subsequent developments, the political climate in Bengal became increasingly charged with accusations, counter-accusations, and a heightened focus on the criminal allegations and their potential ramifications.

The case also drew attention to the broader issues of accountability and responsibility within the state government, as underscored by the High Court’s reprimand.