NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially taken over the probe into the brutal killings of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers – Pradeep Mondal, Devdas Mondal, and Sukanta Mondal – during the 2019 post-poll violence in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali. In a significant development on July 6, the central agency registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case, explicitly naming former Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Shahjahan Sheikh as the prime accused. This move by the CBI comes on the heels of a stringent directive issued by the Calcutta High Court on June 30, which highlighted serious concerns about the impartiality and effectiveness of the state police’s previous investigation.
Justice Joy Sengupta of the Calcutta High Court had ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within the CBI, to be led by a Joint Director-level officer, to handle the case with “utmost seriousness.” This judicial intervention follows years of persistent demands by the victims’ families, who had approached the High Court seeking a CBI probe, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the investigation conducted by the West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The three BJP workers were found dead after an alleged mob attack on their village in Sandeshkhali, a riverine island approximately 80 kilometers from Kolkata, in the aftermath of the 2019 general elections. The mob was reportedly led by Shahjahan Sheikh, a figure who has since become synonymous with a litany of controversies and allegations in the region.
Justice Sengupta, in his strongly worded order transferring the probe, minced no words in criticising the state police’s handling of the case. He reportedly noted, “In the present case too, which has even more serious charges, I find that the police failed to take action against the prime accused at different stages, leading to gross miscarriage of justice. It would, thus, not be in the interest of justice to again give the reins of investigation to them.”
The court’s observations extended beyond this specific murder case, drawing parallels with other incidents involving Shahjahan Sheikh. The judge pointed out a pattern, stating, “It appears that whenever allegations are leveled against the said accused – Sheikh – the state police ‘tend to falter, be it in the above-referred case of mob violence against the ED Officials or in the instant case’.” This sharp rebuke underscores a perceived systemic failure in addressing complaints against the influential former TMC leader.
Shahjahan Sheikh’s name has become emblematic of the broader unrest and allegations of lawlessness in Sandeshkhali. He was initially arrested on January 5, 2024, in connection with a separate case: the alleged assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his Sandeshkhali residence. The ED team had gone to his home to investigate a multi-crore ration distribution scam, but they were reportedly met with violence, their vehicles damaged, and personnel assaulted by a mob allegedly orchestrated by Sheikh. He has been in judicial custody since then, facing multiple charges. The CBI is already independently probing three cases related to these attacks on the ED team.
Beyond the political violence and the assault on central agency officials, Sandeshkhali has also been gripped by widespread allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse leveled by numerous women against Sheikh and his associates. These allegations, which surfaced prominently in early 2024, detail horrifying accounts of forced land acquisitions for fish farming and trading, and systematic sexual exploitation of women in the area. These accusations have led to massive protests, drawing national attention to the plight of the villagers.
