Enforcement Directorate Claims Bengal Police Softened Allegations in Shahjahan Sheikh Case

In a statement released on Monday, the Enforcement Directorate said that Bengal police had softened the allegations against Shahjahan Sheikh and that the central agency's complaint included stronger language.

The ED claimed that the police's FIR omitted references to the more severe accusations. According to an ED official, parts such as attempting murder and inflicting grave harm to public personnel are not included in the FIR.

In addition, during the search at Sahajahan Shekh's residence and office premises on January 24, the ED teams were attacked. As a result, a complaint was made to the jurisdictional Police for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) for offences under Sections 307, 333, 326, 353, 392, 395, 397, 149, 148, 186, 189, 426, 435, 440, 341 & 342 r/w Section 120B, 109 and 115 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

"However, police filed FIR no. 09 of 2024 at Nazat P.S. for offenses i.e. 147, 148, 149, 341, 186, 353, 323, 427, 379, 504, 34 (mostly bailable and non-scheduled offences)," the official statement continues. This Directorate has not received a copy of the FIR.

Rajeev Kumar, the director general of police in Bengal, said reporters on Monday that "those who have broken the law" would not escape punishment. When questioned about Shahjahan Sheikh, he said, "We will take strict action against anyone who has broken the law."

subsequently the mob assault on Enforcement Directorate personnel on Friday when they attempted to search Trinamul leader Shahjahan's residence in Sandeshkhali block, North 24-Parganas, top Bengal police officer has not publicly discussed any actions taken subsequently.

In relation to the event, the police have opened three cases. The Enforcement Directorate is the target of one of the cases.

Up until Monday night, no one had been taken into custody in any of the three incidents.

Joby Thomas K, the superintendent of police in Basirhat, said that the police had only filed the cases after conducting a preliminary investigation, in response to the ED's purported allegations being diluted. "The sections are given according to the offences, and the police register cases after preliminary inquiry."

Thomas refuted the claim that a copy of the FIR was not sent to the central agency. "A copy of the FIR has already been served on the ED," he said.

The deadly assault on the CRPF officers, ED officials, and journalists who were following the ED team during their search of Shahjahan's home was cited in the central agency officials' police complaint.

"As officers with the assistance of CRPF Personnel were trying to pursue to get door opened even by trying to contact the concerned person," said an ED statement released on the day of the assault. At that moment, his mobile device's location showed that he was inside this residence.

The ED team was then caught off guard when, in less than 30 minutes, a throng or mob of between 800–1000 people began to march toward them while brandishing lathis, stones, bricks, and other weapons, and they began to gherao the CRPF officers and ED officials.

"Abruptly, they began assaulting the CRPF officers and ED staff, hurling bricks and stones at them. They also used physical force to attack the officers and the 27 CRPF men in two locations with stones, lathis, and hands.

"In addition, they targeted the severely damaged ED vehicles." Crowds violently assaulted ED officers as they carried out their jobs (suspected to be provoked by Sahajahan Sheikh and his colleagues). The crowd marched toward the ED officials with the aim to kill, leaving three cops with serious injuries.

In response to a complaint from Shahjahan's family, the Bengal police have opened three cases, one of which is against the ED for suspected criminal intimidation, damage, and home trespassing.