Sun Jul 06 03:05:44 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The CBI has taken over the investigation into the deaths of three BJP workers in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, following the 2019 post-election violence. The decision comes after a Calcutta High Court order citing a lack of action by the West Bengal Police and the CID against the prime accused, TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh. Sheikh is already in judicial custody for an alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in January 2024, related to a ration distribution scam. The High Court deemed the police investigation inadequate and entrusted the case to a CBI-SIT for a fair and serious probe. The case is set against a backdrop of allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse against Sheikh and his associates in Sandeshkhali.

**News Article:**

**CBI Takes Over Probe into 2019 Sandeshkhali Killings; TMC Leader Under Scrutiny**

*New Delhi, July 6, 2025* – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially assumed control of the investigation into the deaths of BJP workers Pradeep Mondal, Devdas Mondal, and Sukanta Mondal, who were killed during post-election violence in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, back in 2019. The move follows a directive from the Calcutta High Court, citing serious concerns about the impartiality of the state police’s handling of the case.

An FIR has been registered against Shahjahan Sheikh, a prominent Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, identified as the prime suspect in the killings. The High Court has mandated the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within the CBI to ensure a thorough and unbiased investigation, to be supervised by a joint director.

Justice Joy Sengupta stated that the West Bengal Police and the CID had failed to take adequate action against Sheikh at various stages, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. The court emphasized the pattern of alleged inaction by the state police when allegations arise against Sheikh, referencing a separate case involving an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials.

Sheikh is currently in judicial custody, arrested in January 2024, for allegedly orchestrating an attack on ED officers who were conducting a raid at his residence in Sandeshkhali in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam. The ED is also investigating that case.

The Sandeshkhali region has been a focal point of unrest, with numerous allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse leveled against Sheikh and his associates by local women. The transfer of the investigation to the CBI marks a significant development in the search for justice and accountability in the Sandeshkhali case.

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