New Delhi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, his brother and five others in connection with the mob attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in Sandeshkhali on January 5, accusing them of criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder, officials said on Tuesday.
He said that the first chargesheet of the agency in the case was filed before the Basirhat Special Court on Monday.
The ED team which went to raid Sheikh’s house in connection with the ration distribution scam worth crores of rupees in West Bengal was attacked by a mob of about 1,000 people. They said that the team had also gone to arrest Sheikh as he had alleged close links with former state food minister Jyoti Priya Malik, who was arrested and under investigation in the scam. Officials said that seven people are named in the chargesheet, including Sheikh, his brother Alamgir and associates Ziauddin Mulla, Mafuzar Mulla and Didarbaksh Mulla.
He said that the CBI has charged the accused under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) besides rioting and involvement in unlawful activities. Sandeshkhali is a river island area about 80 km from Kolkata. The area has been in the news since Sheikh and his people were accused of land grabbing and sexual exploitation by local women. The CBI took over the investigation of three cases related to the incidents that took place on January 5. Sheikh was arrested by the state police on February 29 and was taken into custody by the CBI on March 6.
The CBI spokesperson said, “Investigation has revealed that Shahjahan Sheikh was the main conspirator behind the incident in which ED officials were attacked when they went to search his residential and official premises in connection with allegations of money laundering related to irregularities in the purchase and distribution of ration through the PDS scheme.”