There is no order stopping Bengal Police from arresting Sheikh Shahjahan – the main accused in sexual assault and land grab allegations from Sandeshkhali – the Calcutta High Court has said.

“We clarify there is no stay on arrest in any proceeding. There is only a first information report and he (Shahjahan) has been named as an accused. Obviously he needs to be arrested,” the court said.

The court’s clarification comes after Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee made an astonishing claim Sunday night – that the Bengal government is unable to arrest Shahjahan because the court had “tied the hands the police”.

In comments slammed by the opposition BJP as “contempt of court”, Mr Banerjee seemed to blame the High Court for delaying the Sandeshkhali inquiries – by staying its order to form a SIT to probe the January 5 attack on the Enforcement Directorate team.

The court was told today 43 FIRs were registered till December last year, of which 42 had resulted in charge-sheets. “As far as grabbing land of tribal community members, seven cases were started,” the court was told, “Since February 8, 24 cases of land grabbing and various sections were filed.”

To this the court observed drily, “Surprising no arrests were made in four years.”

On Sunday Mr Banerjee said, “…those calling for Shahjahan’s arrest should make an appointment and ask the court why this stay was granted. Was it to ensure Bharatiya Janata Party could secure mileage from this incident?” and insisted the Trinamool is not shielding its on-the-run strongman.

“If the High Court ties hands of state administration (then) what can be done? After the January 5 incident – when it was claimed ED officers were attacked – the central agency filed a complaint and the High Court ordered the constitution of a SIT with state police and central agencies.”

“Around 10-12 days later ED appealed for stay in the High Court. The plea was accepted. This means they did not want any investigation, arrest, summons, or interrogation,” Mr Banerjee continued.

“If High Court ties hands of state police, how can they arrest anyone?” he asked again, pointing to the arrests of Trinamool leaders Uttam Sardar and Shibu Hazra. “I want to put this on record… Trinamool is not guarding Shahjahan. Judiciary is. Lift the stay and see what police does next…” Mr Banerjee said.

The court’s next hearing in this case had been set for March 6

Mr Banerjee also said the authorities had to be given “at least a month” to make arrests, and referred to the alleged Saradha chit fund scam, into which the ED’s inquiries began in 2013. He claimed a “dual policy” and claimed the state police force never not get similar leeway in its investigations.

Critics of the ruling Trinamool have rebutted Mr Banerjee’s arguments, pointing out the court had not issued a stay on investigative process, or the arrest of any individual, including Sheikh Shahjahan.

Mr Banerjee’s comments – which came after Bengal Police arrested party leader Ajit Maity on charges of grabbing land from villagers – were labelled by opposition leaders as contempt of court.

READ | Trinamool Leader Ajit Maity Arrested In Sandeshkhali Land Grab Case

“He is not from the Government. He is speaking on behalf of his party. He is the shining jewel of the Trinamool Congress. The Trinamool cannot remove Shahjahan,” the BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya said.

Meanwhile, Mr Banerjee’s attacks did not stop with targeting the ED and the Calcutta High Court. He also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will hold three rallies in Bengal in early March; this will be days before the Election Commission announces dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Citing the arrests of Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick – by the ED in July 2022 and October 2023 on money laundering and corruption charges – Mr Banerjee declared his party did not “spare” them, unlike the BJP, which inducted its former rivals, after sometimes having “branded them as thieves”.

“This is Modiji‘s guarantee. All thieves and corrupt people can join BJP and wash off sins…”

Significantly, the Trinamool leader also took swipes at other opposition leaders, including the CPIM, which is a member of the INDIA bloc and is supposed to be an ally of his party.

“What were opposition leaders doing? Till 2016, Sandeshkhali had a CPIM MLA. Why didn’t they raise the allegations? Suvendu Adhikari (who was seen as Ms Banerjee’s close aide before he jumped to the BJP) has photographs with Shahjahan. Why didn’t he speak out after leaving Trinamool?”

Mr Banerjee also promised to visit Sandeshkhali after the Trinamool’s March 10 rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground. He said “I feel it is not prudent” to visit the volatile area at this time.

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The Mulayam Singh government’s 1993 move to stop Hindu prayers in one of the cellars of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque was “illegal”, the Allahabad High Court said today, rejecting a petition challenging a district court order that allowed the prayers to resume after 30 years.

The cellar, known as Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana, was sealed in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid Demolition in 1992. Soon after the demolition, then chief minister Kalyan Singh had resigned and his government was subsequently dismissed, paving the way for President’s Rule. In the Assembly polls next year, a government headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav took over. The state government then cited law and order concerns and the cellar temple was sealed.

The district court’s order last month, allowing resumption of Hindu prayers in the cellar, came on a petition by Shailendra Pathak Vyas. Mr Vyas had then submitted that his family held prayers in the cellar since the British era.

“The worship and rituals which continued to be performed in the cellar by Vyas family till 1993 was stopped by illegal action of State without there being any order in writing,” today’s high court judgment said.

“Article 25 of the Constitution of India grants freedom of religion. The Vyas family who continued performance of religious worship and rituals in the cellar could not be denied access by oral order. A citizen right guaranteed under Article 25 cannot be taken away by arbitrary action of State,” the order added.

The order said Shailendra Pathak Vyas has said the cellar has been in his family’s possession since 1551 and had submitted documents to show how it was willed down the generations.

The court noted that a 1936 map filed by the then state government showed the Vyas ji ka tehkana. The court also noted that the Committee Of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which challenged the district court order, had failed to establish prima facie possession over the cellar.

“Failure of appellant to establish prima facie possession over the disputed property, and plaintiff succeeding in building up a strong prima facie case negating the stand of appellant, leads to undeniable situation that stopping worship and performance of rituals by the devotees in the cellar would be against their interest,” the court said.

“Prima facie I find that act of the State Government since year 1993 restraining Vyas family from performing religious worship and rituals and also by the devotees was a continues wrong being perpetuated,” Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal said in the order.

The court also noted that an attempt was made to malign the image of the lower court “on the ground that the officer concerned had passed the order on last day of working”. It noted that the district court had already asked the administration to take control in an order dated January 17, 2024 and the January 31 order was only to correct an accidental slip.

“Considering the overall submissions advanced by the respective counsel of the parties and after analysing the material on record, I find that the appellant has not made out any case for interfering in the order dated 17.01.2024 and 31.01.2024 appointing the District Magistrate, Varanasi as Receiver and arranging to carry out worship and rituals in Vyas tehkhana (cellar) under his supervision by the priest, so appointed,” the court said, noting that prayers in the cellar started on February 1.

Shah Rukh Khan is very active on X (formerly Twitter) where he regularly interacts with fans and film industry insiders. Recently the star was seen reacting to Allu Arjun’s son Allu Ayaan singing his film Dunki’s song Lutt Putt Gaya. 

The video was shared by a fan account which featured Allu Ayaan sitting in a car, dressed in a sports jersey, and happily singing the chorus of Lutt Putt Gaya.

Reacting to the video, SRK wrote, “Thank u lil one… you are flower and fire both rolled into one!!! Now getting my kids to practice singing @alluarjun’s Srivalli… ha ha.”

Shah Rukh ji … soo sweet of you . Humbled by your sweet msg . Lots of love 🖤ðŸ™ÂÂ�ðŸÂÂ�½

— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) February 25, 2024

Replying to SRK’s words, Allu Arjun wrote, “Shah Rukh ji … soo sweet of you . Humbled by your sweet msg. Lots of love.”

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan also celebrated 30 years of his film Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and wrote, “I really believe this film is the sweetest warmest happiest film I have done. I see it and miss everyone involved in the film especially my friend and teacher Kundan Shah. To the whole cast and crew thank u and love u all.”

He also reacted to John Cena singing his song Bholi Si Surat. He wrote, “Thank u both…. Love it and love u @JohnCena, I’m gonna send u my latest songs and I want a duet from the two of u again!!! Ha ha.”

See Also: Shah Rukh Khan reacts to John Cena singing Bholi Si Surat: “Gonna send you my latest songs”