SC adjourns hearing on Sandeshkhali case: 'Why is state protecting individual's intrest?'

The Supreme Court of India has postponed the hearing on the West Bengal government's petition challenging the Calcutta High Court's order, which directed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali, until July.

“Why should state protect interest of private individuals," the top court observed during the hearing today. To this, West Bengal replied, “There are comments against the state which is being challenged as state has carried out fair investigation."

In its plea submitted to the top court, the state government expressed that the high court's order on April 10, 2024, had demoralized the entire state machinery, including the police force.

"The high court, in a broad order, instructed the State to extend the necessary support to the CBI without specific guidelines, which amounts to usurping the powers of the state police to investigate any cognizable offense in the Sandeshkhali area, even if unrelated to the allegations raised by the PIL petitioners," the plea stated.

The CBI received intelligence about a significant stockpile of arms, including foreign-made pistols, concealed in Sandeshkhali, prompting the deployment of a team of NSG commandos for investigation.