West Bengal's Sandeshkhali case has now landed in the Supreme Court after igniting nationwide fury over allegations of sexual abuse and land grabbing by a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader.
Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava has lodged a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, urging for an impartial investigation by either a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the accusations.
The petition not only demands disciplinary measures against the implicated police officers but also calls for compensation for the purported victims of the alleged crimes.
BJP's six-member fact-finding team
Additionally, a six-person investigative group appointed by BJP chief JP Nadda, to visit the region was stopped by the police on Friday. The team was barricaded in Rampur.
BJP chief had asked the team to visit the region and meet women who had accused the Trinamool leader of sexual assault.
Following this, Union MoS Annapurna Devi had a meeting with the West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose.
"We will seek his (Ananda Bose) permission, and thereafter proceed to Sandeshkhali. The prevailing situation indicates a dire lack of law and order in the region. West Bengal's police is as guilty as TMC goons in this situation," she added.
President's rule in West Bengal
In view of this, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Arun Halder said the panel has recommended the imposition of President's rule in West Bengal in its report submitted to President Droupadi Murmu on the alleged harassment of women by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his supporters in Sandeshkhali.
“Some officials have behaved wrongly and ignored the National Commission. We have filed a case against them. We have written to the President Droupadi Murmu to blacklist all of them,” he said.
Also, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, following a visit to Sandeshkhali, described the situation as "ghastly, shocking, shattering," attributing blame to law enforcement for colluding with "rowdy elements" in the area. He suggested the formation of a Special Task Force to investigate the allegations.
West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Friday stopped by police on way to restive Sandeshkhali area, which has been rocked by protests over alleged atrocities on villagers by TMC leaders, citing prohibitory orders.
He questioned the state government's rationale behind denying access to opposition parties, stating, "Why are opposition parties being prevented from entering Sandeshkhali? What is the state government trying to hide? Why are they trying to politicise it?"
“Is Sandeshkhali a prohibited area? Why we are not being allowed to go inside. We are not terrorists,” he further added.
However, the West Bengal Police have refuted allegations of rape leveled by the BJP. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the police emphasized that no complaints of rape have been received during multiple inquiries conducted by various authorities, including the State Women's Commission and a 10-member fact-finding team led by DIG CID.
The incident took place in Sandeshkhali on January 5, when an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid targeted the residence of Trinamool strongman Shajahan Shiekh, linked to a multi-crore ration distribution scam. The situation escalated when Shajahan's associates reportedly assaulted ED officers, leading to a chaotic sequence of events.
Subsequently, women from Sandeshkhali came forward with allegations of land grabbing and enduring years of torture and sexual harassment.
