Sandeshkhali: Shahjahan Sheikh Sent To 10-Day Custody, Bengal Police Says Arrest In ED Officials Attack Case, Not Sexual Assault Charges

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali case, was sent to police custody for 10 days by a local court in West Bengal's Basirhat on Thursday (29 February).

He was arrested earlier today after being picked up by the police from the North 24 Parganas district post-midnight and kept in Basirhat court’s lock-up until the hearing on the matter.

While Sheikh is the fourth TMC leader to be arrested after protesting women alleged land grab and sexual assault, West Bengal Police said that Sheikh has been arrested in another case of ED officers' assault.

ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar was quoted as saying by ANI that Sheikh has been arrested in a case which happened on 5 January 2024 where ED officers were assaulted during a raid they were conducting.

Sheikh was on the run since then and the BJP was alleging that the TMC was saving Sheikh from arrest. Earlier, three TMC leaders, namely Ajit Maity, Uttam Sardar and Shiboprasad Hazra were arrested.