Talking to reporters in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, Mahato said, “I talked to Shahjahan Sheikh after the attack (on the ED team). I told him to ensure that there was no further unrest in Sandeshkhali…I don’t do party work actively here. I don’t have much influence.”
On January 5, a mob of Sheikh’s alleged supporters attacked an ED team which had gone to Sandeshkhali to raid his residence as part of its probe into the ration distribution case.
An accused in several cases of sexual harassment and land grab in Sandeshkhali, Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after being on the run for 55 days.
Meanwhile, the CBI continued its searches at Sheikh’s residence and other locations in Sandeshkhali for the second consecutive day on Friday. The 14-member team included six CBI sleuths, six Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) experts, and two ED officials who were injured in the January 5 attack.
Officials said the probe agency went door-to-door contacting all those who were in touch with Sheikh through phone since January 5 and allegedly helped in executing the attack. The CBI has so far managed to obtain records of 28 such calls, they added.
The CBI also searched the house of a local villager while looking for the mobile phone of a person identified as Abu Hossain Molla, who is considered close to Sheikh and addresses him as “bhai”. Sheikh had reportedly spoken to him on January 5, sources said.
According to sources, the agency used a 3D major scanning system to click photographs during their searches. They also visited areas near Sheikh’s house in Akunjipara locality of Sarberia to collect more evidence.
“After preliminary investigation, the CBI has today conducted searches in Sandeshkhali (West Bengal) related to the attack on ED officers. Assistance of forensic teams for forensic examination of the places of occurrence in the case of violence against ED officers was also taken. Several incriminating documents and material exhibits have been seized during the searches,” the CBI said in a statement on Friday.
“In pursuance of the orders of the Calcutta High Court of Calcutta, three FIRs were registered at CBI, Anti-Corruption Branch, Kolkata on March 5th taking over FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police. Custody of accused Shahjahan Sheikh was taken from the CID, West Bengal Police, on March 6, 2024.”
“The case papers were also collected from the respective police stations and sections like attempt to murder, dacoity etc were added to it,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, Sheikh was taken for a medical examination at the ESI Hospital in Kolkata’s Joka area. “Everything will be proved. I have faith in God, He will do justice,” the TMC leader told local reporters.