Sandeshkhali case: Why should state be interested in protecting someone? SC asks Bengal govt

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the West Bengal government's petition challenging the Calcutta high court's order to transfer all 42 FIRs related to the ration scam and the Sandeshkhali sexual harassment and land grabbing case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"Why should the state be interested in protecting someone?" news agency PTI quoted bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan as saying.
While hearing the plea on April 29 also, the apex court asked the West Bengal government as to why the state should come in as a petitioner for "protecting the interest" of some private individuals.
In its plea before the apex court, the state government said the high court's order demoralised the entire state machinery, including the police force.
The CBI is already investigating the case of attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali and has registered three FIRs related to incidents on January 5.
During the hearing on April 29, the Supreme Court questioned why the state was acting as a petitioner to "protect the interest" of private individuals. In its plea, the state argued that the high court's order had demoralized the state machinery, including the police force.
The CBI is already investigating the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali and has registered three FIRs related to incidents on January 5. The high court, noting that it would monitor the investigation, directed the CBI to file a comprehensive report on the alleged illegal conversion of agricultural land into water bodies for pisciculture.
This report must include a thorough inspection of revenue records and physical inspection of the converted land.
Additionally, the high court ordered the CBI to investigate allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. The CBI is to submit a comprehensive report on these matters at the next hearing date.