STATE CHALLENGES HC ORDER FOR CBI PROBE INTO POLL VIOLENCE

The West Bengal government on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, opposing a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged post-poll violence in the state earlier this year.

In its petition, the state government questioned the fairness and independence of the CBI, contending the agency was acting at the behest of the central government and was targeting leaders and workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The plea also said that the high court order was erroneous for it did not give sufficient opportunities to the state government and wrongly relied on a report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) inquiry committee, which comprised members with close association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the central government.

Claiming that there were concerted efforts being made to discredit a democratically elected state government, the petition submitted that the West Bengal government was committed to conducting a free and fair probe itself and that the order on the CBI investigation must go.

The petition was filed on Wednesday evening and it is yet to be assigned a date of hearing.

Pursuant to the direction by the Calcutta HC on August 19 to probe allegations of post-poll killings and other serious crimes in West Bengal, the CBI has initiated its probe and has registered more than two dozen cases. The CRPF have been asked to provide security to members of the four CBI teams, comprising seven members in each team.

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