Shahjahan charged over attack on ED team in WB
■ CBI chargesheets Sheikh’s brother, 5 others
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against seven accused, including the arrested Trinamul Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, for their role into the violent mob attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team during a raid at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal.
The CBI filed the charge sheet before the additional chief judicial magistrate of the Basirhat court in the district on Monday. Apart from Mr Sheikh, his brother Sheikh Alamgir, later arrested, has also been booked among other attackers, under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The charge sheet is related to the FIR (RC 0102024A0002) the CBI earlier registered following the orders of the Calcutta high court on March 3.
The CBI stated, “Investigation in the case revealed that Shahajahan Sheikh was the key conspirator behind the incident that occurred on 05.01.2024, in which ED officials were attacked, when they went to conduct a search at his residential and official premises, in a case on allegations of money laundering related to proceeds of crime generated from irregularities in procurement, processing/ milling/fortification and distribution of ration through PDS scheme.”
The ED team had come under attack from a 1,000strong mob when it wentto raid Mr Sheikh’s house in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal. It had also gone to arrest Mr Sheikh because of his alleged close links with arrested former state food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, under the scanner in the scam, they said.
The charge sheet is against seven people, including Mr Sheikh and his brother.