The Calcutta High Court criticized the state in the murder case involving Shah Jahan, terming the court’s order as ‘contempt’.
KOLKATA: On Monday (1st April), the Calcutta High Court expressed its displeasure over the alleged submission of an additional charge sheet by the police in the murder case against Shahjahan Sheikh of Sandeshkhali, despite the court staying the proceedings.
Justice Joy Sengupta’s bench heard the case on Monday and criticized the police’s actions, cautioning that contempt rules could be issued.
A few years ago, three murders occurred in the Basirhat area, including in Sandeshkhali. The family of the victims accused Shah Jahan of being involved in the incident. However, when the police filed the charge sheet, they omitted Shahjahan’s name.
Recently, the family members of the deceased approached the High Court with this complaint, leading the court to stay the proceedings. When a stay of proceedings is granted, the police are prohibited from filing a new charge sheet in the case.
During Monday’s hearing, the litigants’ lawyer informed the court that the police had submitted an additional charge sheet, despite the court’s suspension of proceedings on January 17. The judge questioned how the police could submit the charge sheet when all proceedings, including the trial, had been stayed by the High Court.
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The judge emphasized that the police should now withdraw the charge sheet and warned that he might be compelled to issue a contempt of court ruling against the investigating officer for disregarding the court’s order.
In response to that, state lawyer Amitesh Banerjee stated,
“The court’s order may have been misunderstood. The police have not yet submitted the charge sheet; they were planning to do so. The information was provided to the court due to a lack of coordination.” Subsequently, the judge announced that the next hearing in this case would take place the following Wednesday.
