SC Transfers Criminal Cases Against Bengal BJP Leader to CBI

The Supreme Court has transferred two criminal cases against West Bengal BJP leader Kabir Shankar Bose to the CBI for an impartial investigation. The cases involve allegations of assault and molestation against TMC workers, which Bose claims are politically motivated. The move highlights the Court’s commitment to independent probes in sensitive cases.

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has transferred the investigation of two criminal cases against West Bengal BJP leader Kabir Shankar Bose to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision, made by a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Pankaj Mithal, mandates the CBI to take over the probe immediately to ensure an impartial investigation.

The cases, filed in December 2020, involve allegations of assault and molestation of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers. Bose, however, claims the charges are politically motivated, accusing his father-in-law, senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee, of orchestrating the allegations due to personal animosity. Bose had filed for annulment of his marriage with Banerjee’s daughter in 2015 and subsequently joined the BJP, which he argues fueled the vendetta.

In January 2021, the Supreme Court had stayed the proceedings after the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provided evidence suggesting Bose was not present at the scene of the alleged crimes. A movement register maintained by the CISF indicated that Bose, who is under its protection, was elsewhere at the time of the incidents.

The Court’s decision to shift the investigation to the CBI underscores its commitment to maintaining judicial fairness and ensuring that politically charged cases are examined independently.

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Bose was represented in court by senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani, who emphasized the importance of an unbiased probe in light of the political implications surrounding the case.