of West Bengal Calcutta High Court The ED on Thursday directed that no punitive action can be taken against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with the FIR lodged against them following the raid in Sandeshkhali. The ED has said that three of its officers were injured and their belongings were snatched in an attack on the ED team at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on January 5. The attack took place when they were investigating alleged irregularities in the state’s ration distribution system. In this connection, Shahjahan had gone to Sheikh’s house to conduct raids.
ED’s counsel told the court that he had come to know that four cases have been registered in connection with the incident. He said that one of these cases has been registered by ED regarding the attack on its officers and other cases have been registered against its officers. Justice Jai Sengupta orally directed that no coercive steps can be taken in connection with the FIR against the ED officials who were sent to search Sheikh’s premises.
An employee of Shahjahan Sheikh’s house in Sandeshkhali, where the ED raided last Friday, has filed a complaint against the Central Investigation Agency. Shahjahan’s employee alleged that ED officials broke the lock of the Trinamool leader’s house without any valid search warrant. Shahjahan’s employee has also filed a complaint of harassment against ED officials. The complaint was lodged at Najat Police Station. Apart from this, two more FIRs have been registered at Najat Police Station. ED also handed over several videos of the incident to the police. On the other hand, the police visited the spot and took suo motu cognizance and registered a complaint. According to district police sources, every complaint is being investigated.