Sandeshkhali Violence| We Have No Sympathy For That Person: Calcutta HC While Refusing Urgent Listing Of TMC Leader Shahjahan Sheikh's Bail Plea

The counsel on behalf of the Sheikh today approached the Court and submitted, “My application for anticipatory bail was pending, it was heard out, it was dismissed two days back, four applications are pending before the lower courts…”. He further requested to list the Bail Application of Sheikh as an urgent motion.

The Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya while refusing the request, remarked, “42 cases are pending against your Client and for next ten years, mind it, you will have wonderful work, for next ten years you will not have any time to handle any other brief…he will keep you busy for next ten years…anything you want, you come on Monday”. The Court further said, “We have got no sympathy on that person.”

Earlier, the High Court took suo moto cognizance in response to the newspaper reports of alleged sexual assault, violence and land-grabbing cases in Sandeshkahli, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The Court clarified that there is no interim order of stay of the arrest of Sheikh in any case before the court. The High Court had also expressed anguish and concern over the fact that in earlier cases of a similar nature, the Police Authorities took four years to file chargesheets and there was a delay in investigations/inquiries.

The High Court had already impleaded Sheikh, the Pradhan of Zila Parishad, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate and the police authorities in the matter.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had also taken cognizance under Section 13(1) O of the CPCR Act, 2005 of these distressing incidents allegedly occurring in the Sandeshkhali Area involving violence against the children. The NCPCR had issued a notice in which they requested that a prompt and thorough investigation into the incident may be carried out by ensuring the medical treatment, necessary compensation, proper rehabilitation and resettlement of the families, and action against the alleged perpetrators.

A Public Interest Litigation(PIL) has also been filed by AOR Alakh Alok Srivastava before Calcutta High Court seeking justice for the victims of the alleged violence in the area, praying for a High Court-monitored CBI/SIT enquiry into the matter, and seeking constitution of Fact-finding committee, compensation for the victims, deployment of Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) in the affected area.