Supreme Court Upholds West Bengal’s Withdrawal of CBI Consent in Sandeshkhali Case – HeadlineFly.com

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The Supreme Court rendered a significant decision on Wednesday, ruling in favor of the West Bengal government in its challenge against the CBI’s registration of cases in the Sandeshkhali incident without prior consent. Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta dismissed the Centre’s objections to the suit’s maintainability and the claim that Bengal had withheld relevant information. The court emphasized that after West Bengal revoked its general consent to the CBI in 2018, the agency was not authorized to file FIRs for offenses within the state. Bengal argued that the CBI was functioning under central supervision, as reported by Live Law. The Trinamool Congress hailed the verdict, asserting that it safeguarded a state’s law and order against undue political interference. In response to the ruling party’s tweet, the decision was lauded as a reaffirmation of democratic principles and federalism. The timing of the judgment coincided with the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Bengal’s petition challenging the CBI probe into the Sandeshkhali incident. Justice BR Gavai chastised the state for its inaction in the matter, particularly its failure to apprehend key accused Shahjahan Sheikh. The CBI had implicated Sheikh in the assault on ED officials in Sandeshkhali, which led to his eventual arrest amid public outcry over the allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi urged against sensationalizing the Sandeshkhali issue for political motives, underscoring the need for a balanced approach. The ruling signals a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal tussle between West Bengal and the CBI, with broader implications for federal governance and state autonomy in India.