Last Updated: February 26, 2024, 16:27 IST
Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh. (File photo)
Protests are underway in North 24 Parganas district against Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters over allegations of land grabbing and sexually abusing local women
In the Sandeshkhali alleged sexual violence and land grab case, the Calcutta High Court on Monday added absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman and prime accused Shahjahan Sheikh a respondent in a suo-motu case registered by the court.
Directing the court to immediately arrest the absconding TMC leader, the high court said there was no order stopping Bengal Police from arresting Sheikh.
“There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. We clarify that there is no stay on his arrest. A stay on investigation doesn’t mean a stay on arrest. There is an FIR registered and he has been branded as an accused. Bengal Police has to arrest him,” the court clarified in its order.
Who is Shahjahan Sheikh?
Known to residents as ‘Betaj Badshah’, Sheikh Shahjahan is an influential person associated with Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, a border area in the North 24 Parganas district. Before the TMC leader made headlines after Sandeshkhali allegations, his backers attacked ED and CAPF personnel during an attempt to raid his house in connection with the ration scam.
Protests are underway in North 24 Parganas district against Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters over allegations of land grabbing and sexually abusing local women.
Sheikh has been absconding since an Enforcement Directorate team that raided his house in connection with an alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob last month.
An accused in many cases, Sheikh was born into an extremely poor family but locals his name is now a force to reckon with in Sandeshkhali. Most of the complainants claimed that Shajahan was actively involved in the forcible acquisition of their land and the torturing of local women.
While Shahjahan holds the post of zilla parishad in this area, his career started with the Left regime in 2006. He began as a close aide of CPI(M) leader Moslem Sheikh, on whose behalf he would collect money and gradually began to dabble in real estate and fisheries in this area.
Sheikh joined the Trinamool Congress in 2013 and, since, has become close to former minister Jyotipriyo Mallick.
In 2019 when three people were killed in a BJP-TMC clash, Sheikh’s name was linked to the incident, however, the TMC leader said it was only to malign his image.
Locals say Sheikh has alleged involvement in various illegal activities since 2006 but no action was taken against him due to his closeness with powerful TMC leaders. Sources alleged that he helped rig the elections in the area and, therefore, was important to the political party in power.
Where is Shahjahan Sheikh?
Shahjahan has remained elusive since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5.
Reprimanding the administration for alleged inaction against Sheikh, the Calcutta High Court on Monday asked officials to issue a public notice in newspapers informing that legal actions have been initiated against Sheikh Shahjahan.
