Calcutta HC Orders CBI Probe In Bengal Post-Poll Violence, BJP Welcomes Decision

The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI investigation in incidents related to post-poll violence in West Bengal.

Calcutta High Court (File Photo)

New Delhi: Calcutta High Court has ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal, reports ANI. The High Court also ordered to set up SIT for investigation and instructed that senior officers from West Bengal cadre should be a part of the team.

The court further ordered that all cases of murder, crimes of rape, and sexual assault should be given to CBI for investigation, and for other allegations related to violence court committee SIT headed by Suman Bala Sahoo and two other police officers will take charge. This SIT will comprise three IPS officers -- Soumet Mitra, Suman Bala Sahoo, and Ranbir Kumar. 

The bench also said that no adverse action will be taken without court direction and all state agencies should cooperate with the Central agencies to investigate the matter.

TMC unhappy with the verdict

However, TMC is not satisfied with the Court's order and said that was of state and Centre agency will interfere with the rights of the state govt. Sources have also said that TMC will appeal to the Supreme Court in this matter.

"I am unhappy with the verdict. If in every law & order matter which is entirely within State govt's jurisdiction the CBI comes in it is a transgression on State's right. I'm sure state govt will judge the situation&take a decision to appeal to a higher court if necessary", said Saugata Roy, TMC

TMC Leader Kunal Ghosh said, "The HC order cannot be openly opposed. They gave instructions. The government and the party's top leadership will respond to the directive. Possible legal aspects will be considered. We think the NHRC report is purely politically motivated. However, I am not commenting on HC now."

A seven-member committee set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had earlier looked into the incidents of violence following the West Bengal assembly elections and recommended a court-monitored CBI probe.

BJP welcomes court's decision

The order has been welcomed by the Bhartiya Janta Party.

"Post-poll violence in West Bengal took place under the protection of the state government. The order by the Calcutta High Court has exposed the government. We welcome the court order", said BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, "We welcome the court's decision. In a democracy, everyone has the right to spread their ideology but one is allowed to spread violence. There is no place for violence in democracy."

The post-poll violence reportedly broke out shortly after TMC was declared victorious in the West Bengal Assembly Elections on May 2, 2021.  The BJP leaders and workers have alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress started thrashing the saffron party leaders after the overwhelming victory. There were also reports of rape and murder which will now be probed by the CBI.