New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the West Bengal government for moving before it challenging a direction to transfer the probe to the CBI into charges of mass sexual exploitation of women and land grab in Sandeshkhali allegedly by a ruling TMC member Sheikh Shahjahan and others.
Senior advocate A M Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, requested a bench led by Justice B R Gavai that the court may call the matter after a couple of weeks as his client has some very important information, which could not be collected and filed with this state government’s petition. Singhvi insisted that the matter is between the state and the court, as he requested the bench to grant him a couple of weeks in the matter. The bench said it will take up the matter in July. “The information may be relevant and the court may consider having the matter after two or three weeks”, said Singhvi.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to pass a direction that the pendency of this state government’s plea should not be used anywhere. Singhvi said how can I use the pendency, as I have filed a special leave petition?
The bench, also comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta, said the order by the high court is only to investigate the allegations of land grabbing. “We will clarify that the matter is adjourned at your instance and the pendency of the SLP would be a ground for prolonging the proceedings before the high court”, Justice Gavai told Singhvi.
Singhvi clarified that he is not suggesting that the pendency of the SLP will be used. Senior advocate Jaydeep Gupta, also representing the West Bengal government, said they are only asking for one week's time and matter may be fixed next Monday, as the state wants to put some material on record.