Calcutta HC issues contempt notices to Mamata government and orders Shahjahan Sheikh to be handed over to CBI by 4 p.m.

New Delhi: In a stern message, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday asked the West Bengal government to immediately hand over Shahjahan Sheikh to the CBI at 4 pm today. Shiekh is the prime suspect in the Sandeshkhali case. Contempt notices were also issued to Mamata’s government. The court has asked the government to file an affidavit within two weeks as to why it is not liable for contempt.

The ED has filed a contempt petition before a division bench headed by Justice Harish Tandon against the state government, alleging failure to implement Tuesday’s orders of a division bench headed by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam.

The court noted that while the state has pleaded that it has filed an SLP in the Supreme Court challenging Tuesday’s order, no interim stay has been granted for the execution of the orders till the time the state issues its order .

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for ED, submitted that filing an SLP is not a stay unless an express order to that effect is made.

He alleged that the state was trying to deny custody of Sheikh to the CBI.

ED officials were attacked and injured by a mob when they went to search Sheikh’s premises in Sandeshkhali on January 5 in connection with a ration fraud probe.

Sheikh was arrested by West Bengal police on February 29 in connection with the attack on ED officials, following which the state government transferred the case to the state CID.