To a question on Tuesday by Supreme Court Judge Justice A.K. Sikri as to “what’s happening in West Bengal government”, the State government did not blink a moment to retort “what’s happening in the CBI?”
The impromptu query from the number two judge in the Supreme Court came immediately after advocate and BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia detailed the alleged killing of three BJP workers in Purulia district.
Mr. Bhatia said the “brutal killings”, the body of one of the workers was found hanging from a high-tension electric post, was an example of the violence meted out by the ruling Trinamool Congress to its political rivals. Mr. Bhatia wanted a CBI investigation into the deaths
“This is not being political, but what is happening in West Bengal?” Justice Sikri expressed his apprehension with a rider.
But senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the State government, took on the question from the judge headlong, replying with a counter-question of his own.
“So what is happening in the CBI also... And all of this [Mr. Bhatia’s petition] is indeed politics,” he countered.
Mr. Sibal said the Supreme Court should not enter the realm of facts in criminal cases like this. Factual evidence should be best left to be argued before the magistrate court concerned.
Mr. Bhatia interjected, saying that depended on a case-by-case basis.
At one point, Justice Sikri asked Mr. Bhatia whether the CBI could investigate cases in West Bengal considering the fact that the State government had withdrawn general consent to the CBI’s jurisdiction within its territory.
Here, Mr. Sibal intervened to say that “as an officer of this court, I have to say that nothing can prevent the Supreme Court from ordering a CBI investigation. But having said that, I feel this court should not decide on facts”.
The court adjourned the hearing. The petition by Mr. Bhatia concerns the deaths of Shaktipad Sarkar, Tirlochan Mahato and Dulal Kumar.
Mr. Bhatia said the State police took 18 days to file FIRs and the victims’ family have been threatened by “TMC goons”.
Besides a CBI probe, Mr. Bhatia has sought compensation of ₹50 lakh for the family members. He also sought security for the family members of the victims.
