SC Rejects PIL Seeking CBI Probe Into Sandeshkhali Case, Says 'Don't Compare It to Manipur' | Updates

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking transfer of investigation and subsequent trial outside West Bengal and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the alleged sexual assault of women living in village Sandeshkhali in West Bengal.

Petitioner Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava withdrew the petition from the Supreme Court and sought liberty to approach the Calcutta HC. Supreme Court noted that the Calcutta High Court has taken cognisance of the matter.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma visited the strife-torn Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas in West Bengal on Monday. Sharma will be on a two-day visit to the state.

“The women of Sandeshkhali have been harassed… They are scared and the situation here is bad. Women are crying in front of me. I don’t think anything will happen here without the President’s rule…Today I have copies of 18 complaints including 2 rapes and serious molestation…” Sharma said after meeting with the women of Sandeshkhali.

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1. After visiting Sandeshkhali, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma arrived at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to meet West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose. Sharma advocated for President’s rule in West Bengal after visiting the unrest-hit area.
2. While hearing pleas seeking a CBI probe in the Sandeshkhali case, the Supreme Court said that it is best if the local High Court hears the matter. The apex court also asked petitioners not to compare the situation with Manipur.
3. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee, during a press conference, hit out at the Trinamool Congress for “harbouring” Shajahan Sheikh. She said that there is mafia raj in the state, adding that these people would call women anytime in the night and would threaten to kill their husbands if they didn’t go.
4. Police won’t file complaint and would tell women to take permission from Shahjahan Sheikh, Chatterjee said, adding that “Women are most insecure in West Bengal under a woman CM.”
5. Calcutta High Court on Monday rejected a quick hearing of the Sandeshkhali case. A plea had been filed for the case to be heard as soon as possible, however, the court said that it will be heard as per its listing.
6. West Bengal BJP chief Dr Sukanta Majumdar wrote to the National Commission for Women and opposed the state police’s decision to reveal the rape survivors’ identity.
7. The Supreme Court has stayed the Privilege Committee proceedings against the West Bengal Chief Secretary and Senior Officials. The apex court has issued notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat and to Sukanta Majumdar. It has granted four weeks time to file a response.
8. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma arrived in Bengal and said that after meeting the women of Sandeshkhali, she will submit her report to the President. “The administration here won’t allow commissions to meet victims, they fear that the truth will come out,” Sharma said.
9. After visiting Sandeshkhali, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
10. “She (Mamata Banerjee) should resign and come here without any post, only then she will understand the pain of the women here…” Sharma said. The NCW chairperson will also hold a meeting with the Chief Secretary and DGP of the state.
11. “As you know, very disturbing news has come from Sandeshkhali… I am going there and I want them (women) to get justice. I will meet the DG and the local police…I want to meet the women and assure them of my support…I will also be meeting the governor…,” Sharma said earlier in the day.
12. Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said, “…National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson is now there in Sandeshkhali. She wants to come and meet me. After that, I’ll be able to formulate my views more specifically…”
13. The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Privilege Committee’s summons to the chief secretary, DGP and other senior officials. The plea states that the petitioners are senior government officials who have managed good conduct. However, due to the committee’s summons, they are being seen as “perpetrators”.
14. The plea further states that the complaint for breach of privilege is “vague, unjustified and does not make a case for breach of privilege”.
15. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a plea seeking transfer of investigation and the following trial outside West Bengal in connection with the alleged sexual assault of the women of Sandeshkhali.
16. The plea, filed by advocated Alakh Alok Srivastava in his personal capacity, also seeks compensation for the victims of the Sandeshkhali violence and action against officials of the state police for the alleged negligence of duty.
17. The Privilege Committee summoned West Bengal Chief Secretary, DGP and other senior officers of the concerned district based on BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar’s complaint.
18. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party for having scripted the incident, along with the Enforcement Directorate, in Sandeshkhali.
19. The TMC supremo also said that not a single women in Sandeshkhali has lodged any FIR and it was she who had directed the police to initiate a suo moto case in this connection.
20. The BJP dubbed the allegations levelled by Banerjee as “baseless”. The law and order has completely broken down in Bengal. The truth is the TMC and the state government officials, be it police or local administration, were hand in glove while committing atrocities on locals. This is the true picture of West Bengal,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.
21.  Meanwhile, speaking on the second day of the BJP National Council Meet in Delhi, legislator Agnimitra Paul launched a scathing attack on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. She slammed the TMC chief for not taking action against the party leaders, who allegedly harassed the women of Sandeshkhali sexually and grabbed their lands forcibly.
22. “Despite being a woman chief minister, Mamata Banerjee stood by the absconding accused, Sheikh Shahjahan,” she said, adding that Banerjee was also helping Rohingyas settle in India.
23. TMC Leader Shibu Prasad Hazra, one of the key accused arrested in the Sandeshkhali violence case, was sent to eight days of police custody by a local court on Sunday.

NCW CHAIRPERSON ON A TWO-DAY VISIT

The National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma is on a two-day visit to West Bengal.

Here’s her schedule:

February 19:

• She will go to Sandeshkhali and meet the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.
• She will visit the victims, with whom she already had a conversation over the phone.

February 20: She will hold a meeting with the state’s Chief Secretary at 12:00 pm.

(With PTI inputs)