There isn’t any order stopping Bengal Police from arresting Sheikh Shahjahan – the principle accused in sexual assault and land seize allegations from Sandeshkhali – the Calcutta Excessive Court docket has mentioned.

“We make clear there isn’t any keep on arrest in any continuing. There may be solely a primary info report and he (Shahjahan) has been named as an accused. Clearly he must be arrested,” the court docket mentioned.

The court docket’s clarification comes after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee made an astonishing declare Sunday evening – that the Bengal authorities is unable to arrest Shahjahan as a result of the court docket had “tied the palms the police”.

In feedback slammed by the opposition BJP as “contempt of court docket”, Mr Banerjee appeared guilty the Excessive Court docket for delaying the Sandeshkhali inquiries – by staying its order to kind a SIT to probe the January 5 assault on the Enforcement Directorate group.

The court docket was informed at this time 43 FIRs have been registered until December final yr, of which 42 had resulted in charge-sheets. “So far as grabbing land of tribal group members, seven instances have been began,” the court docket was informed, “Since February 8, 24 instances of land grabbing and varied sections have been filed.”

To this the court docket noticed drily, “Stunning no arrests have been made in 4 years.”

On Sunday Mr Banerjee mentioned, “…these calling for Shahjahan’s arrest ought to make an appointment and ask the court docket why this keep was granted. Was it to make sure Bharatiya Janata Social gathering might safe mileage from this incident?” and insisted the Trinamool shouldn’t be shielding its on-the-run strongman.

“If the Excessive Court docket ties palms of state administration (then) what will be accomplished? After the January 5 incident – when it was claimed ED officers have been attacked – the central company filed a grievance and the Excessive Court docket ordered the structure of a SIT with state police and central companies.”

“Round 10-12 days later ED appealed for keep within the Excessive Court docket. The plea was accepted. This implies they didn’t need any investigation, arrest, summons, or interrogation,” Mr Banerjee continued.

“If Excessive Court docket ties palms of state police, how can they arrest anybody?” he requested once more, pointing to the arrests of Trinamool leaders Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra. “I wish to put this on report… Trinamool shouldn’t be guarding Shahjahan. Judiciary is. Carry the keep and see what police does subsequent…” Mr Banerjee mentioned.

The court docket’s subsequent listening to on this case had been set for March 6

Mr Banerjee additionally mentioned the authorities needed to be given “no less than a month” to make arrests, and referred to the alleged Saradha chit fund rip-off, into which the ED’s inquiries started in 2013. He claimed a “twin coverage” and claimed the state police pressure by no means not get comparable leeway in its investigations.

Critics of the ruling Trinamool have rebutted Mr Banerjee’s arguments, mentioning the court docket had not issued a keep on investigative course of, or the arrest of any particular person, together with Sheikh Shahjahan.

Mr Banerjee’s feedback – which got here after Bengal Police arrested social gathering chief Ajit Maity on expenses of grabbing land from villagers – have been labelled by opposition leaders as contempt of court docket.

READ | Trinamool Chief Ajit Maity Arrested In Sandeshkhali Land Seize Case

“He isn’t from the Authorities. He’s talking on behalf of his social gathering. He’s the shining jewel of the Trinamool Congress. The Trinamool can’t take away Shahjahan,” the BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya mentioned.

In the meantime, Mr Banerjee’s assaults didn’t cease with concentrating on the ED and the Calcutta Excessive Court docket. He additionally took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will maintain three rallies in Bengal in early March; this shall be days earlier than the Election Fee publicizes dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Citing the arrests of Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick – by the ED in July 2022 and October 2023 on cash laundering and corruption expenses – Mr Banerjee declared his social gathering didn’t “spare” them, not like the BJP, which inducted its former rivals, after generally having “branded them as thieves”.

“That is Modiji‘s assure. All thieves and corrupt individuals can be a part of BJP and wash off sins…”

Considerably, the Trinamool chief additionally took swipes at different opposition leaders, together with the CPIM, which is a member of the INDIA bloc and is meant to be an ally of his social gathering.

“What have been opposition leaders doing? Until 2016, Sandeshkhali had a CPIM MLA. Why did not they increase the allegations? Suvendu Adhikari (who was seen as Ms Banerjee’s shut aide earlier than he jumped to the BJP) has pictures with Shahjahan. Why did not he communicate out after leaving Trinamool?”

Mr Banerjee additionally promised to go to Sandeshkhali after the Trinamool’s March 10 rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Floor. He mentioned “I really feel it’s not prudent” to go to the unstable space right now.

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