"Absolutely Shameful": Calcutta High Court On Sexual Assault Allegations Against TMC Leaders In Sandeshkhali, Reserves Verdict

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday (4 April) heard arguments over the maintainability of pleas accusing local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders of sexual assault and land grab charges in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

After hearing the arguments, Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam observed that the entire district administration and ruling dispensation must owe a moral responsibility.

He said, "Even if [the affidavit] 1 per cent is true, it is absolutely shameful. And West Bengal says it is safest for women? If one affidavit is proved to be right all of this falls."

Public Interest Litigations (PIL) seeking an independent probe into the allegations against expelled TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his men were heard by the division bench of Chief Justice and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju representing the Enforcement Direcotrate (ED) sought for the records of all criminal cases against Shiekh to be transferred to the ED.

Advocate General for the State, Kishore Datta objected to it. He also questioned the political affiliations of advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, whose PIL seeks the transfer of the probe to a court-monitored commission.

Tibrewal is the secretary of the West Bengal BJP. "The question is that is the person a genuine public interest litigant or is he masquerading for others," the AG said questioning Tibrewal's political motivations.

However, Tibrewal said, "If they prove a single affidavit is wrong, I will quit my practise forever." She presented affidavits of victim women before the court and alleged failure of the rule of law in the area.

Another PIL pleader, advocate Alakh Srivastava sought a CBI investigation into the issue and the deployment of CRPF personnel "to instil confidence in the people."

The AG defended state administration by saying that the ED officials were attacked when they went to raid Shahjahan without informing Bengal Police. The state police instead saved them, he said.

In response, DSG Dhiraj Trivedi alleged the ruling administration of creating roadblocks. The court reserved its verdict after hearing all parties in the matter.