HC refuses bail to Shahjahan, bro in Sandeshkhali ED ‘attack’ case

Kolkata: Calcutta HC on Thursday refused bail to Sk Shahjahan and his brother Sk Alamgir in a CBI case over the attack on ED officers during a raid at Shajahan's Sandeshkhali residence, calling them "influential persons of the locality and are dreaded by one and all".The accused sought bail, arguing they had been in custody for over two years. Their counsel submitted before Justice Suvra Ghosh that the agency plans to examine 88 witnesses and rely on 61 documents and 26 material exhibits. "Possibility of completion of trial in the near future is bleak," the counsel said.Shahjahan was first arrested on March 29, 2024, and granted statutory bail. He later sought bail in connection with a Feb 29 complaint filed by the ED deputy director. The cases were subsequently merged after the CBI took over the probe.According to the allegations, when ED officials reached Shahjahan's premises on Jan 5, 2024, in connection with a money laundering case, he refused to open the door. Within an hour, a mob of 800 to 1,000 people allegedly gathered, armed with weapons and attacked ED officials, forcing them to flee.Alamgir, arrested on March 17, 2024, is accused of possessing prohibited firearms allegedly recovered from the residence of Abu Taleb Sk. CBI's counsel submitted that nine accused, including Shahjahan and Alamgir, have been chargesheeted, while investigation is ongoing against 13 others. "A supplementary charge sheet shall be submitted shortly. Though the case was handed over for investigation to the CBI on March 6, 2024, i.e., after two months of the incident, some relevant evidence is yet to be made over," the counsel said.