Calcutta HC transfers Bengal 'post-poll violence' probe to CBI

Kolkata, Aug 19, 2021, IBNS140

In a major setback for the West Bengal government, the Calcutta High Court Thursday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allegations of murders, rapes and unnatural deaths reported after the verdict of March-April state elections was declared on May 2.

A five-judge larger bench, led by Calcutta HC's Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, has also constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the other comparatively less important cases related to the alleged post-poll violence.

The SIT will comprise three IPS officials, including Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranbir Kumar, and it will work under the observation of a retired Supreme Court judge.

The High Court also directed both the CBI and SIT to file its investigation status report before the larger bench within next six weeks.

Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to inquire into the allegations of post-poll violence.

A NHRC team was attacked allegedly by the workers of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata's Jadavpur while conducting a ground zero survey of a violence-hit area.

Later, the NHRC submitted its report before the court which was called "biased, absurd and false" by the state government.

The court had earlier ordered the state government to register cases against all the complaints of the alleged post-poll violence and to ensure ration as well as free medical support to all the victims.

The state's primary opposition force, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was the petitioner of the case, welcomed the verdict while sources in the state government said that it will move the Supreme Court challenging the order.