Calcutta:
Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the prime suspect in the Sandeshkhali case, has been arrested, police said. The leader and his associates have been accused of sexual atrocities against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested in North 24 Parganas district around midnight by a special Bangladeshi police team. He had been on the run for 55 days. After the arrest, he was produced before the Basirhat court.
The team had been monitoring the leader's activities for several days prior to the arrest, officials said.
The arrest comes three days after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court ordered Sheikh Shahjahan to be added to the Sandeshkhali case.
On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice sought notice in the case and said, “There is no reason not to arrest him.”
“Public notice will be given in this matter. There is no stay order in the Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason not to arrest him,” the Court said.
The ruling Trinamool Congress welcomed the arrest, saying it was possible only after the court cleared the can and accused the opposition of taking advantage of the earlier 'embargo' on his arrest.
Terming the arrest as detailed, the BJP claimed that he was taken into safe custody by the West Bengal Police.
Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district has witnessed widespread protests against Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women seek justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land grabbing and sexual assault” under duress. The leader who had been on the run since January 5, was previously embroiled in several criminal cases, including the murder of three BJP workers in 2019.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused Sheikh Shahjahan of ransom money laundering and land fraud. There were also allegations of violence against energy department employees in West Bengal, resulting in an FIR lodged against him.
The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee government of protecting Sheikh Shahjahan after a mob of his supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that had gone to Sandeshkhali to conduct raids against him in a corruption case.