Bengal Police cannot take any coercive action against ED: Calcutta HC on Sandeshkhali violence

The ED has sought a judicial intervention and submitted that the police have not shared any copy of the FIRs lodged on Jan 5 - the day of the incidents -against the central agency officials, who had gone to raid the residence of Trinamool Congress leader Sahjahan Sheikh.

On January 5 morning, the central agency officials had to abandon the raid and flee the area after they, along with the accompanying CRPF personnel, were attacked and beaten by a large mob.

The ED, which moved the petition on Wednesday before the court, alleged the WB Police had not shared any copy of the FIRs with it and instead its officers were being summoned to appear before the police to be examined in connection with the case.

Calcutta High Court Judge Justice Jay Sengupta while hearing the arguments on Thursday directed that the police cannot take any coercive steps against the ED officials in connection with the FIRs against the central probe agency.

The central agency is probing the money trails in the ration distribution scam across West Bengal following a Calcutta High Court order.

It issued a lookout notice last Saturday against Sahjahan, who is still evading arrest.

The ED has already arrested several persons, including former food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, in connection with the PDS scam.