The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal. A five-judge bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal pronounced the judgement on the matter.
CBI will probe the allegations of murder and rape, raised shortly after the overwhelming victory of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) against rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in these elections.
The high court has also ordered to set up SIT for investigation into other offences. Senior officers from West Bengal cadre will be a part of the special investigation team.
This SIT will comprise three IPS officers — Soumet Mitra, Suman Bala Sahoo, and Ranbir Kumar. The proceedings shall be monitored by a retired judge of the Supreme Court; a detailed order regarding this will be issued later, the Calcutta high court said.
The state government has been asked to hand over all documents and records to the investigating agencies. “In case, the state is not acting properly, it will be viewed seriously,” the high court stated.
Earlier, taking note of an interim report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the post-poll violence in West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court had said that it prima facie appears to have caught the Mamata government on the wrong foot as the administration stayed in denial and tried to conceal more than reveal.
Following a slew of petitions on post-poll violence, the bench had directed the NHRC on June 18 to constitute a committee to study the situation.
Union minister Anurag Thakur welcomed the court’s decision and and affirmed there is no place for violence in democracy.
The matter will come up for hearing in the first week of October 4.
(With inputs from ANI)
