CBI files its first charge sheet in Bengal post-poll violence probe

KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed its first charge sheet in the ongoing probe into post-poll violence in West Bengal and accused two men, who were earlier arrested by the local police, of murdering a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker in Birbhum district in May, said lawyers aware of the development.

The charge sheet was filed at the Rampurhat sub-division civil and criminal court in Birbhum, 10 days after the CBI took over the investigation on the direction of Calcutta high court.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a CBI official said. “It’s a procedural step. Charges have to be filed within 90 days of arrest so that the accused doesn’t get default bail.”

Manoj Jaiswal, 42, a construction material trader, was killed in the Nalhati area of Birbum on May 14. Though a resident of Kolkata, Jaiswal was running his business from Nalhati. The BJP claimed that he joined the party a month before the March-April polls. The local police registered a first information report (FIR) against five suspects of whom three are in judicial custody.

CBI officers visited Nalhati on August 29 and recorded statements of Jaiswal’s family.

The charge sheet named Moinuddin Sheikh, who was arrested on June 8, and Imran Sheikh, who surrendered before the police on August 20. CBI told the court it has not yet found enough evidence against Ajimuddin Sheikh who surrendered on June 17. Faruk Ali and Jahedi Hasan, the rest of the accused, are allegedly absconding. All five are residents of Nalhati.

No Trinamool Congress leader HT reached out to commented on the charge sheet.

CBI has so far registered more than 30 cases in the districts and one murder case in Kolkata.

MOINUDDIN SHEIKH, WHO WAS ARRESTED ON JUNE 8, AND IMRAN SHEIKH, WHO SURRENDERED BEFORE POLICE ON AUGUST 20 HAVE BEEN NAMED IN THE AGENCY’S CHARGE SHEET