An accused in several cases of sexual harassment and land grab in Sandeshkhali island of North 24 Parganas district, Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after being on the run for around two months. He was at large since January 5 after his alleged supporters attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali. The team had gone to Sandeshkhali to raid his residence in connection with the ration distribution ‘scam’.

Officials said Sheikh remained silent for most of the interrogation. The CBI is trying to find out who Sheikh was in contact with after the January 5 incident, they added. The team questioning Sheikh comprises two senior officials of CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB).

Meanwhile, a team of CBI officials visited at Sheikh’s home in Sandeshkhali near Akunjipara Mor. They also went to his office and a market named after him near Sarberia more in Notunbajar area of Sandeshkhali. They took photographs, recorded videos and collected documents. The officials were accompanied by a large contingent of central armed forces.

On Wednesday, after CBI took Sheikh into its custody, a team of officials met two senior Basirhat police officials to collect some case-related documents.

“On Wednesday night, the CBI team came to Sandeshkhali and spoke to senior police officers present there. They collected documents related to complaints against Sheikh from the police,” said a Basirhat police official.

As per sources, CBI suspects that the evidence could have been distorted as it was almost after two months that the central agency got Sheikh’s custody.