Sandeshkhali Update: Prime Accused TMC Leader Shahjahan Sheikh Arrested By Bengal Police After Calcutta HC's Order

Absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested by West Bengal Police early Thursday (29 February).

Sheikh is the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali issue where several women have accused local TMC leaders of land grabs and sexual assault.

This comes a day after the Calcutta High Court said that Sheikh can be arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police.

Sheikh was on the run since 5 January when his supporters attacked ED officials, who raided him in a ration distribution scam. BJP was alleging that the TMC is saving Sheikh from arrest.

Indian Express reported that Sheikh was picked up by the police from the North 24 Parganas district post-midnight and kept in Basirhat court’s lock-up.

Police said that Sheikh's activities were being monitored for some time, leading to his arrest. Meanwhile, TMC tried to take credit for the arrest while BJP claimed that its pressure forced the TMC to act.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale posted on X, "As our National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had rightly pointed out - it was a Calcutta HC stay order that had restrained the police."

Earlier, Banejree had argued that the court had tied their hands in Sheikh's case, prompting the High Court to issue a clarification that there was no reason to not arrest.

"On 26 February, the HC clarified that WB Police can arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. And today, in less than 72 hours, he has been arrested by West Bengal Police," Gokhale added.