SC nixes WB plea against CBI probe into ration scam cases

New Delhi: SC Monday dismissed Bengal govt’s appeal challenging a Calcutta HC order directing CBI probe into all ration scam cases, along with incidents of sexual assault and land grab in Sandeshkhali, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.
SC refused to accept advocate A M Singhvi’s assertion that the HC order was against autonomy of the state in matters of law and order and that state police had been probing ration scam cases for four years.Singhvi said ration scam cases are unrelated to Sandeshkhali cases and state police have filed chargesheeets in 42 of the 43 FIRs it had registered.
Calcutta HC had ordered CBI probe into all ration scam cases on allegations that main accused Sheikh Sahajahan, who is in CBI custody since Feb 29, was linked to arrested former minister Jyotipriya Mallick, the alleged main accused in the multi-crore ration scam.
Singhvi said Calcutta HC erred in clubbing the Sandeshkhali incidents with the ration scam. But SC said, “These are all related to Sandeshkhali. You (West Bengal govt) did not do anything for months. You do not even arrest the accused.”