A trial court in West Bengal's Basirhat on Thursday sent TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan to a 10-day police custody. Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested by the West Bengal police from the Minakhan area in North 24 Parganas on Thursday moning. A series of protests erupted in Sandeshkhali earlier this month against the allegations of land grab and sexual harassment by the 42-year-old TMC leader and his aids.
Advocate Raja Bhowmick told ANI that a 14-day Police custody (of Sheikh Shahjahan) was demanded but the court allowed 10-day custody..."
The Calcutta high court on Wednesday had clarified that Sheikh Shahjahan can be arrested by the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police.
On Monday, the high court had directed the West bengal police to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, following which the TMC had said that it does not shield culprits and he would be arrested within seven days.
Sheikh Shahjahan was absconfing since an ED team went to raid his house in connection with the alleged ration scam. The ED officers wereattacked by a mob of around 1,000 people on January 5.
Following his arrest leaders from TMC MP Santanu Sen said that his arrest proves that our government follows 'rajdharma' in an administrative manner. We had taken action against Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick, and similarly, we have taken action against Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar and now Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested," Sen said while speaking to news agency ANI.
However, the West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar said that the TMC government was "compelled" to arrest Sheikh due to the continuous agitation by his party.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose welcomed his arrest and said that the time has come to put criminals, who are ruling the roost in parts of Bengal, behind bars.