The Supreme Court intervened, halting Lok Sabha Privileges Committee proceedings against West Bengal officials over BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar's complaint regarding alleged misconduct during Sandeshkhali protests. Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of orchestrating controversy. Sheikh Shahjahan and associates face Sexual misconduct allegations, with arrests made as the ED's involvement complicates matters.
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00:00 The Supreme Court of India on Monday intervened in the proceedings initiated by the Lok Sabha
00:06 Privileges Committee against the West Bengal officials following a complaint by BJP MP
00:12 Sukanta Majumdar over alleged misconduct during protests in Sandeshkhali.
00:17 The court took further action questioning the jurisdiction and validity of the complaint.
00:22 Majumdar's complaint to the parliamentary committee alleged a breach of privilege after
00:27 he was reportedly injured during a protest against alleged sexual assault by the leaders
00:32 of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. The committee had summoned top West Bengal
00:38 officials including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for questioning
00:42 on 19th of February. But now that is not going to happen.
00:45 Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is also a Congress Party member representing the petitioner,
00:51 argued that the parliamentary privilege does not extend to political activities
00:55 and highlighted discrepancies in the complaint. He contended that Section 144 has been imposed
01:01 before the alleged incident and presented evidence suggesting that the MP was injured
01:05 due to scuffle involving police personnel. The Lok Sabha Secretariat defended the committee's
01:11 action stating that the notice was part of the routine procedure to gather evidence and
01:16 did not imply guilt. However, the bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachur
01:22 issued a stay order halting the further proceedings until the matter is reviewed.
01:26 Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has retariated her allegations that
01:30 the BJP is orchestrating the controversy over sexual exploitation allegations in Sandesh Khali.
01:37 She accused her detractors of exaggerating the incident and criticised the involvement
01:42 of central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
01:45 Banerjee emphasised her government's commitment to address such incident promptly and accused
01:50 the BJP of instigating unrest in Bengal for political gain. She condemned the sensationalisation
01:56 of the issue by certain media outlets. In response to the allegations, several
02:01 individuals including Sheikh Shah Jahan and his associates Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra
02:07 have been implicated in cases of sexual misconduct. While Hazra and Sardar have
02:12 been arrested, Sheikh Shah Jahan remains at large. Women in Sandesh Khali have been staging protests
02:18 for the past eight days in response to the perpetrated atrocities which prompted the
02:22 BJP to send a mission to look into the matter. Tensions are still rising in spite of the
02:27 delegation's efforts as demonstrated calls for justice and an end to the current crisis.
02:32 Meanwhile, State Chief Police Rajiv Kumar has called for the ED to take action
02:37 against Shah Jahan whose arrest was reportedly halted due to ED's intervention in the case.
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