In Sandeshkhali, CBI Team Clicks Photos Of Shajahan Shiekh's Home, Office

A day after getting custody of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited his house and office in Sandeshkhali's Sarberia today, officials said.

After finding both the premises locked, the team took photographs of the houses from outside and left, they said.

Later, the team visited the Sheikh Shajahan market, where they interacted with villagers. CBI officials operated under the protection of central forces.

Mr Sheikh, along with his followers Shiba Prasad Hajra, Uttam Sardar and others, have been accused of sexual abuse and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

After being on the run for 55 days, Mr Sheikh was arrested on February 29 from a house in the Minakhan area, around 30 km away from Sandeshkhali on the outskirts of Sunderbans.

He was named in two cases lodged at the Nazat police station in connection with an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers on January 5 during a raid at his house in a ration scam case.

On Wednesday, the CBI got his custody from Bengal CID.

On March 5, the CBI failed to get his custody from the CID, which said the leader was not handed over to the central agency as the state government had moved the Supreme Court against an order of the Calcutta High Court.

Meanwhile, another CBI team visited Bongaon in the same district and took photographs of the house of Shankar Addya, former chairman of the local municipality.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Mr Addya early in January for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the distribution of ration supplies.

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