Expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing police investigation into last year’s gangrape case in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas in which a Trinamool block president has been named as an accused, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who was hearing a petition filed by the woman complainant alleging police inaction, also ordered the SIT to submit a progress report of its investigation to the ACJM of Basirhat once a month.

In her plea, the woman said that on May 16, 2024, she had lodged a complaint against a local Trinamool leader Dilip Mallik and three others of raping her. The woman alleged that the police delayed in filing an FIR and did not take any action against the accused and no one was arrested. The woman said that she approached the High Court as the accused had started to threaten her and pressure her to withdraw the FIR.

Ordering the formation of an SIT, Justice Ghosh observed that there has already been a delay in the probe. “The present investigation team will put in efforts as there has already been delay; collect materials, if required; send the samples collected or samples required to be collected to the forensic experts and apply their mind so that effectively the investigation of the case can be taken to its logical conclusion,” the judge ordered.

As per the High Court’s order, the SIT will comprise Assistant Commissioner of Police (Homicide, Detective Department) Bireswar Chatterjee, and IPS officer and Baduria sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Rahul Mishra. The two senior officers have been asked to choose a team of inspectors and sub-inspectors according to their choice for the investigation.