West Bengal government requests urgent SC hearing over CBI probe into attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing against the Calcutta High Court’s decision to order a CBI probe into the attack on ED and CAPF teams in Sandeshkhali. The state government sought directions for listing the plea, but the Bench refused and advised them to approach the CJI for urgent hearing.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the state government, requested the urgent listing of the plea before Justice Sanjiv Khanna. The CJI is holding a nine-judge Constitution Bench case, and Justice Khanna advised the state government’s counsel to seek an application during the lunch hour for the plea listing.

The West Bengal government emphasized the need for immediate action from the apex court as the Calcutta High Court had ordered the transfer of Shahjahan to the CBI. However, the Bench led by Justice Khanna declined to pass any directions and suggested approaching the Registrar (Judicial) of the apex court for instructions from CJI Chandrachud for an urgent hearing on the issue.

The Special Leave Petition filed by the state government argued that the High Court’s order to shift the probe to the CBI was done hastily, obstructing their right to seek legal remedies. The Calcutta High Court had earlier directed the West Bengal Police to hand over the accused mastermind, Sheikh Shahjahan, to the CBI for an independent investigation into the attack on ED and CAPF teams in Sandeshkhali on January 5.

–IANS
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