CBI detains three ‘associates’ of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who was ousted, in the Sandeskhali ED assault case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Monday that, as part of its investigation into an assault on an Enforcement Directorate team on January 5, it has detained three suspected allies of TMC leader Shahajahan Sheikh, including his security guard.
As the cases related to the assault incidents were turned over to the central agency by the Calcutta High Court, officials in the agency said that the CBI sleuths arrested Sheikh’s security guard, Didar Baksh Molla, who is the complainant in one of the three FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police following the attacks.
In addition to Baksh Molla, the CBI investigators also detained Jaiuddin Molla, Faruk Akunji, and the Panchayat Pradhan of Sarberia village.
According to the authorities, Sheikh, who is regarded as the attack’s mastermind, is tight with all three of the individuals. A CBI spokesman said, “They will be produced before a magistrate tomorrow.”
According to the officials, the CBI had called nine of Sheikh’s close associates and aides for questioning in the case on Monday. The investigating team believes that these people were involved in the January 5 attack on ED officials and incited the crowd to attack the team when they raided Sheikh’s Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, premises.
According to the authorities, Sheikh, whose involvement in the incident is being investigated, is being held by the CBI till March 14.
Three cases pertaining to occurrences on January 5, when ED officers were ambushed by a crowd of over a thousand people as they went to examine Sheikh’s property as part of the enforcement agency’s probe into an alleged ration distribution scheme, have been turned over to the CBI. In the ration case, a former state minister has been taken into custody.
It should be mentioned that Sheikh was taken into custody by the state police on February 29, one day after the high court granted permission for the CBI, ED, or West Bengal police to do so.
