Kolkata, June 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday framed charges against former Trinamool Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and three others in the land‑grabbing case in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district.
The charges against the accused persons were framed in the ED special court in Kolkata.
The ED alleged that land was forcibly grabbed in Sandeshkhali by threatening people, and later money was earned by utilising that land. Investigators informed that a total of Rs 5 crore was earned in this way. After the framing of charges, the case will be heard on July 7.
It has been learnt that, apart from Shahjahan, three others were named in the ED charge sheet. They are Alamgir, Shiba Prasad Hazra and Didar Boksh Molla. The ED will start taking testimony in this case on July 7. It is learnt that there are 30 witnesses in this case.
It may be recalled that on January 5, 2024, a team of ED officials visited the Agarhati area under Sandeshkhali I block in Basirhat to investigate a ration corruption case. The operation was against Sheikh Shahjahan, then Executive Director of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad and a Trinamool strongman. His followers attacked the ED team, which opened a can of worms in Sandeshkhali.
In February, the area saw widespread protests as villagers accused Shahjahan and his aides of land grabbing and sexually harassing women.
Sheikh, who was on the run for 55 days after his supporters attacked the ED team on their way to search his home in connection with a ration scam, was arrested by the police on February 29, 2024.
He was then handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was probing the incident.
There are multiple allegations against Shahjahan, including torture of villagers in Sandeshkhali, torture of women, land grabbing and corruption.
The ED also took Shahjahan into custody on corruption charges while he was in CBI custody. Charges were framed against him today in the land‑grabbing case.
Source: IANS
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