The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a court monitored probe by either Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a special investigative team (SIT) into the alleged incidents of violences and sexual abuse of women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. The court observed that since the Calcutta High Court has already taken suo motu cognisance of the case, it should not allow the PIL to avoid multiple proceedings before different courts.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan heard the PIL and requested the petitioner to not compare the violence in Sandeshkhali to the Manipur riots of 2023.
"Please do not compare what happened in Manipur to what happened here." Justice Nagarathna said.
The Court granted the petitioner liberty to approach the Calcutta High Court for relief. The plea was withdrawn by the petitioner after this.
Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava filed a PIL in the apex court seeking the transfer of trial outside the state of West Bengal, preferably to Delhi, saying that the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC) was involved.
Srivastava also sought setting up of an enquiry committee comprising three retired High Court judges like it was done for the Manipur violence case to ensure relief to the victim women. He also pressed for free and fair investigation by CBI/ SIT under the supervision of the top court.
The PIL had sought compensation for victims and disciplinary action against "erring policemen."
Women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali have been protesting for more than one week over alleged incidents of atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides. It has been alleged that women were sexually assaulted in Sandeshkhali at gun points. It has also been alleged that tribal people were forcefully made to transfer their lands by the TMC leader.
On Tuesday, the Calcutta High Court took suo motu cognisance over the alleged incidents of sexual assaults of women in Sandeshkhali at gun points and transfer of lands of tribal people in violation of relevant laws. A single-judge bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Ray expressed gross disappointment over the alleged incidents of violence against women in Sandeshkhali and issued notice to the West Bengal government.
The high court also issued notices to the Inspector General of Police, DIG of Police (Barasat Range), Superintendent of Police & District Magistrate of North 24 Parganas.
The West Bengal Police on Saturday arrested Shajahan Sheikh's aide Shiba Prasad Hazra, a TMC leader and North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad member. He has been accused of sexual harassment by women in Sandeshkhali. Sheikh and the other accused are still absconding.