Sandeshkhali Violence: SC Declines PIL for CBI or SIT Investigation

The Supreme Court declined to entertain a PIL on Friday, which sought a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the violence in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali village.

A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih stated that the Calcutta High Court is already seized of the matter and has taken cognisance.

“Let there be no dual forums,” the bench said, granting liberty to the PIL petitioner to approach the high court.

As the bench was disinclined to entertain the matter, petitioner-lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava withdrew the PIL. Consequently, the matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

Sandeshkhali, situated in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been witnessing violent protests over allegations of sexual abuse of women by a local TMC leader and his supporters. Numerous women have levied accusations against local Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters, citing land grab and sexual assault. Sheikh has been evading authorities since a mob, purportedly linked to him, assaulted Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a search of his premises in connection with a corruption case.