On Friday, a task force comprising personnel from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, and forensic experts undertook a comprehensive search operation at the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali. This action is part of the ongoing investigation into an attack on an ED team within the vicinity of Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.
According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI), the CBI team not only scoured Sheikh Shahjahan's residence but also extended their search to surrounding areas, specifically the Akunchipara locality of Sarberia, aiming to gather crucial evidence relevant to the case. The search proceedings were conducted under the close supervision of central security forces deployed to ensure the safety and integrity of the operation.
The investigative endeavors encompassed various measures such as videography and area mapping, serving to augment the ongoing inquiry into the aforementioned incident, as per PTI's coverage.
Sheikh Shahjahan, a suspended member of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), had previously been apprehended by the Bengal Police in connection with an assault on ED officials by a mob in Sandeshkhali on January 5. The altercation transpired during an ED search operation at Shahjahan's premises related to an alleged ration distribution scam.
Following Shahjahan's custody by the Bengal CID, previous attempts by the CBI to conduct searches at both his residence and office in Sandeshkhali had been unsuccessful. However, on Friday, investigators managed to gain access to Shahjahan's sealed residence after breaking the seal.
Earlier in the day, a CBI team accompanied Sheikh Shahjahan to the ESI hospital for a routine medical examination before transporting him to the CBI office at Nizam Palace in Kolkata for further procedural steps.
Sheikh Shahjahan, alongside associates Shiba Prasad Hazra, Uttam Sardar, and others, faces allegations of sexual assault and land encroachment in Sandeshkhali. After being on the run for 55 days, Sheikh Shahjahan was apprehended on February 29.
