[Sandeshkhali Violence] Calcutta High Court Declines Urgent Listing For Bail Plea Upon Being Told Shahjahan Sheikh Had Been Arrested

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday was told that Zila-Parishad Pradhan and prime-accused in the violence occurring Sandeshkhai- Shahjahan Sheikh, had been arrested this morning or late last night. 

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya was approached by the counsel appearing for Sheikh.

Counsel submitted that Sheikh had been arrested although his plea for anticipatory bail and only just been disposed of and that there were several cases which were still pending against him before trial courts.

It was argued that the plea was an extremely urgent one, and the counsel prayed that Sheikh's plea for regular bail be listed as an urgent motion. 

Upon hearing these contentions, the bench refused urgent listing and remarked:

"Let him be arrested. For the next 10 years, this person will keep you very busy. You won't have any time for any other brief. 42 cases have been registered against him, he had been absconding as well. You come on Monday. Anything you want you come on Monday, we have got no sympathy for that person."

Earlier Live Law had reported that the Calcutta High Court had urged the Police to apprehend Sheikh upon clarifying that there was no order of stay on his arrest, and also stated that the CBI or ED would be free to arrest him as well.

Notably, Sheikh, a member of the ruling Trinamool Congress party is the prime accused in cases of sexual assault and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, which has led to wide unrest in the area. 

He was also allegedly the mastermind being the attack on the ED officers who were going to raid him in connection with the multi-crore ration scam.