Ration Distribution Scam: Calcutta High Court rejects anticipatory bail plea by Shahjahan Sheikh

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday rejected an application filed by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh for anticipatory bail in the multi-crore ration distribution scam case [Shahjahan @ SK Shahjahan vs Directorate of Enforcement].

A division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md Shabbar Rashidi turned down Sheikh's plea.

The development was confirmed by Sheikh's counsel.

"The bench did not find the conduct of my client above board. It also based its decision on a note relied upon by the prosecution, which had some material against my client," confirmed advocate Sabyasachi Banerjee who represented Sheikh. 

Sheikh is alleged to be close to Jyoti Priya Mullick, a minister who was arrested last year for his alleged role in a ration distribution scam.

Notably, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not yet arrested Sheikh in the ration scam .

He is presently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a January 5 incident, when around 200 local people surrounded and gheraoed ED officers who had arrived to raid Sheikh's residence at Akunjipara in connection with the ration scam case.

ED officers were injured during the ensuing clash, and Sheikh's aides were accused of orchestrating the attack.

In the following days, Sheikh was also accused of being involved in the sexual assault of women and land-grabbing activities in Sandeshkhalli village. The TMC leader then absconded and was on the run for around 55 days before the West Bengal Police finally arrested him on February 29.

Following his arrest, the TMC also suspended him from the party for six years.

Meanwhile, the CBI and the ED expressed concern that the West Bengal police may try to dilute the case against Sheikh if they continued to have custody over him.

On March 5, the Calcutta High Court ordered that the probe into the attack on the ED officers be transferred to the CBI. To this end, the Court also directed the State Police to hand over Sheikh's custody to the CBI.