Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 19: A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea of Sheikh Shahjahan, the suspended Trinamool Congress leader from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, who is a key accused in the January 2024 attack on Enforcement Directorate officials.

The case stems from a violent incident in which officials of the Enforcement Directorate, along with personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, were allegedly assaulted by Shahjahan’s ?????ers while attempting to carry out a raid at his residence. The operation was linked to an alleged multi-crore public distribution system (PDS) scam in the state.

Subsequently, Shahjahan also faced additional charges, including illegal land acquisition in Sandeshkhali, conversion of agricultural land into fish farms using saline water, and serious allegations of sexual assault involving local women.

He was first taken into custody by the West Bengal Police before being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is currently probing the case.

During the hearing before Justice Suvra Ghosh, counsel representing the CBI opposed the bail application, arguing that Shahjahan could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if released. The agency further alleged that even while in custody, he had attempted to intimidate key witnesses and orchestrate attacks through associates who remain at large.

Accepting these submissions, the court rejected the bail plea. However, it clarified that Shahjahan may file a fresh application in the future depending on the progress of the investigation and emergence of new evidence.

Following the initial incident, leaders of the Trinamool Congress, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had initially defended him. However, after sustained protests led by women in Sandeshkhali throughout much of 2024, the party eventually suspended Shahjahan.
Since then, multiple attempts by Shahjahan to secure bail across different courts have been unsuccessful.