Calcutta High Court Declines Anticipatory Bail Plea Of Ration-Scam Accused Shahjahan Sheikh

The Calcutta High Court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former TMC 'strongman' Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with the multi-crore public distribution system/ration scam in West Bengal.

Notably, Sheikh's recent rise to infamy came due to the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials who were en route to raid his residence in Sandeshkhali in connection with the ration scam. The probe into the attacks has since been transferred to the CBI- a decision which was upheld by the Apex Court. 

A division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Shabbar Rashidi rejected Sheikh's prayer for pre-arrest bail in cases registered into the Ration scam, being investigated by the ED.

Counsel for the accused argued that the charges against him were unclear and that the ED had raided his residence but failed to recover any incriminating evidence. It was further stated that there was no direct evidence against Sheikh, and he was being suspected merely due to statements by the co-accused.

DSG Dhiraj Trivedi, appearing for the ED submitted that the Sheikh had been uncooperative with the investigation and had not responded to summons, culminating in the attacks on ED officials when they had gone to raid his residence.

Accordingly, in not finding any merit in Sheikh's plea, and observing that there were no shortcomings in the ED's investigation, the prayer for anticipatory bail was rejected.