The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR following orders from the Calcutta High Court to investigate allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault in the Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal. The FIR includes charges of sexual harassment, land grab, and violence. While five individuals have been named as accused in the FIR, others involved remain unidentified. The named individuals are reported to be influential figures, although their identities have not been disclosed.
The Calcutta High Court's directive for a court-monitored CBI investigation was issued on April 10, emphasizing the need for an impartial inquiry in the interest of justice. The CBI set up an email ID for receiving complaints related to such cases, and numerous complaints were received.
Last week, a ten-member CBI team visited Sandeshkhali to investigate the alleged crimes against women and land grabbing. Sandeshkhali gained attention earlier this year when several women-led protests against local strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, a now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader, and his associates, accusing them of sexual assault and land grab.
Shahjahan evaded authorities for 55 days following the allegations against him, until his arrest by the Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team. He was subsequently suspended from the Trinamool Congress for six years. After a directive from the Calcutta High Court, Shahjahan was handed over to the CBI's custody and is currently in jail.
