On 5 January 2024 a crowd attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers outside the house of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, and he went into hiding. From 8 February local women protested, accusing him and his associates of grabbing land and sexually exploiting women. He was arrested on 29 February and the Calcutta High Court handed the cases to the CBI. In May 2024 videos released by the TMC claimed the complaints were tutored by the BJP, which called them doctored.
Key takeaways
- ED officers raiding TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh's house in Sandeshkhali were attacked on 5 January 2024, and he absconded for 55 days.
- From February 2024 local women alleged land grabs and sexual exploitation by Sheikh, Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar. All three were arrested and the High Court gave the cases to the CBI.
- In May 2024 TMC-released videos claimed the complaints were tutored by the BJP, which called them doctored. Their authenticity has not been settled.
- Sheikh remained in jail in October 2026 after being refused bail in March 2026.
Background: the 5 January ED attack
Sandeshkhali is a riverine area on the edge of the Sundarbans. Shahjahan Sheikh was the TMC's block president there and an office-holder in the North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad Tribune LiveLaw.
On 5 January 2024 an ED team went to search his house in its probe into an alleged ration distribution scam. Documented A crowd gheraoed and assaulted the officers and their central forces escort and damaged vehicles; the officers fled on autorickshaws and two-wheelers. An ED officer told PTI at least two officers were seriously injured and called the attack "unprecedented" PTI via Deccan Herald. Later reports put the injured at three Deccan Herald. All India Radio described a "1000-strong mob" AIR. The district police and Sheikh's family lodged a counter-complaint against the ED team Deccan Herald.
How the women's protests started
With Sheikh in hiding, women began protesting, carrying sticks and brooms and demanding the arrest of Sheikh, Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. Reports date the start to 7 or 8 February ETV Bharat IANS via TNM. Claim · Protesters They alleged the men surveyed homes for young women, took them to the party office and sexually assaulted them, and seized land for prawn farming Scroll.
On 9 February protesters burnt poultry farms owned by Hazra, saying they stood on grabbed land Scroll. The administration imposed Section 144 of the CrPC and suspended internet services. ETV Bharat reported 16 panchayat areas under the order; PTI reported 19 pockets across seven villages ETV Bharat PTI via Business Standard.
Timeline
Uttam Sardar arrested
The TMC suspended Sardar for six years and police arrested him. Scroll gives the arrest date as 10 February in one report and 11 February in others Scroll Scroll.
High Court steps in
The Calcutta High Court took suo motu cognisance of reports of sexual harassment and land grabbing LiveLaw and quashed the prohibitory orders, which were later reimposed after fresh unrest Scroll.
BJP state chief stopped
Police stopped BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar from going to Sandeshkhali. He was hurt at Taki on 14 February. A party official told PTI he slipped and fell while standing on a car bonnet Tribune; ETV Bharat linked the fall to a scuffle with police ETV Bharat.
NCSC seeks President's rule; delegations blocked
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes recommended President's rule, citing complete lawlessness. Police stopped a BJP delegation led by Union minister Annapurna Devi at Rampur and a Congress team led by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, citing Section 144 Tribune.
Shibu Hazra arrested
Hazra was arrested a day after police added IPC sections 376D (gangrape) and 307 (attempt to murder), following a woman's statement before a magistrate. Police said 18 people had been arrested PTI via Business Standard.
NCW chief visits
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma visited and said: "We demand President's Rule in Bengal, which we will also include in our report" PTI via Hitavada. She made the recommendation to President Droupadi Murmu on 5 March PTI via Deccan Herald.
Shahjahan Sheikh arrested
State police arrested him at Minakhan, about 30 km away, within 24 hours of the High Court saying the CBI, ED or state police could arrest him. He was booked under IPC sections including 307 and 333 for the ED attack, sent to 10 days' police custody, and suspended by the TMC for six years Tribune.
CBI takes custody
On 5 March the High Court transferred the ED attack probe to the CBI. The CID did not hand him over that day because the state had moved the Supreme Court. After a second order, the CBI took custody around 7 pm on 6 March IANS via Morung Express. The Supreme Court rejected the state's challenge AIR.
CBI probe into women's and land complaints
A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya ordered a court-monitored CBI probe, a complaints portal, secrecy for complainants and CCTV in sensitive areas Tribune Business Today. The CBI registered an FIR against five people and unknown others on 25 April Deccan Chronicle.
At a 4 April hearing, Chief Justice Sivagnanam had remarked orally: "Even if [the affidavit] 1% is true it is absolutely shameful" LiveLaw. Petitioner-lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal said her compilation held about 100 affidavits of alleged sexual assault Tribune.
The May 2024 videos and withdrawn complaint
On 4 May 2024, during the Lok Sabha campaign, the TMC released a video of BJP local leader Gangadhar Koyal (also spelt Kayal). Claim · TMC In it he is heard saying: "We got it done [complaints of sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali] as per instructions of Suvendu da [Suvendu Adhikari], he helped us" Scroll. The Wire said it could not verify the roughly 33-minute clip The Wire. A later clip had him saying over 70 women were paid Rs 2,000 each to protest; PTI did not verify it PTI via Deccan Herald.
Claim · BJP Koyal said "My words have been tampered" and "High-tech method has been used to tamper with my voice", and sought a CBI inquiry Scroll. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: "All the videos released are fake and doctored" PTI via Deccan Herald. No evidence No forensic finding or court ruling on the videos' authenticity was found in the reporting reviewed for this page.
Around 8 May one of three women who had made rape allegations withdrew her complaint. She said a local BJP Mahila Morcha functionary had taken her signature on a blank sheet, saying it was for a housing scheme Business Standard, and told reporters: "No rape incident took place" Tribune. The functionary replied: "Nobody forced her to file a complaint" Business Standard. The NCW said TMC workers were compelling women to withdraw complaints Newslaundry.
Both accounts
Protesters' and BJP account
The protesting women said Sheikh's group seized land by force and sexually harassed women for years, and that they had been too afraid to speak Scroll. The BJP said the state shielded Sheikh; Sukanta Majumdar said: "The state administration was forced to arrest him because of the continuous agitation led by us" Tribune. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya called the Koyal clip "a fake, AI-generated video" and said "neither is denying the crimes perpetrated in Sandeshkhali" Tribune.
TMC and state government account
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told the Assembly on 15 February: "I have never allowed injustice in my life." She said the Centre targeted Sheikh through the ED and that "There is a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [RSS] base in Sandeshkhali" Business Standard. DGP Rajeev Kumar said: "Before February 6, however, we did not get any complaints of this nature" PTI via Business Standard. After the videos, Banerjee said the "shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP" Scroll. In the Supreme Court the state said 43 FIRs had all ended in chargesheets Tribune.
Outcome
- Election: TMC's Haji Nurul Islam won Basirhat, which includes Sandeshkhali, with 8,03,762 votes against the BJP candidate's 4,70,215, a margin of 3,33,547 IndiaVotes (ECI data) OneIndia. He died on 25 September 2024 News Arena.
- Supreme Court: On 8 July 2024 it dismissed the state's challenge to the 10 April order. Justice B.R. Gavai said the state "did not do anything for months" LiveLaw.
- Chargesheet: On 27 May 2024 the CBI chargesheeted seven people, naming Sheikh as the main conspirator in the ED attack Tribune. Reports differ on the co-accused: ETV Bharat lists his brother Alomgir and three Mollahs ETV Bharat; Scroll, citing The Indian Express, also names Shibaprasad Hazra Scroll.
- Later arrests: The CBI arrested alleged attacker Duranta Mollah on 25 November 2025 Deccan Herald. On 10 December 2025 a truck hit the car of CBI witness Bholanath Ghosh on his way to Basirhat court, killing his son and driver; police arrested the main suspect AIR.
- 2026: The BJP won 207 of 294 seats and Suvendu Adhikari became Chief Minister on 9 May AIR. BJP's Sanat Sardar won Sandeshkhali by 17,510 votes IndiaVotes. On 20 May police arrested TMC leaders Sabita Roy and Mithu Sardar over the ED attack IANS via Punjab Kesari.
What is still pending
On 19 March 2026 Justice Suvra Ghosh of the High Court refused Sheikh bail after the CBI argued he could influence witnesses, leaving him free to apply again National Herald IANS via Hans India. On a fresh plea, Justice Apurba Sinha Ray recused himself in October 2026 and sent it back to the Chief Justice; Sheikh is held in Presidency Correctional Home Indiahood (Bengali). No verdict has been reported in any Sandeshkhali case, and no CBI chargesheet on the sexual assault and land-grab allegations was found in public reporting.
Questions people ask
What happened in Sandeshkhali in 2024?
After ED officers were attacked at Shahjahan Sheikh's house on 5 January 2024, local women protested from February, alleging land grabbing and sexual exploitation by him and his associates. He was arrested on 29 February.
Who is Shahjahan Sheikh?
He was the TMC's Sandeshkhali block president. The TMC suspended him on his arrest, and the CBI named him the main conspirator in the ED attack.
Was the Sandeshkhali sting video fake?
That is disputed. The TMC released it; the BJP and Gangadhar Koyal said his voice was doctored. PTI and The Wire said they could not verify it, and no forensic finding has been reported.
Did Sandeshkhali complainants withdraw their complaints?
One woman withdrew her rape complaint in May 2024, alleging a BJP worker had her sign a blank paper. The BJP worker denied this, and the NCW alleged TMC workers were pressuring women.
Sources
- PTI via Deccan Herald: ED officers 'assaulted' by TMC leader's loyalists during Bengal raid, 5 Jan 2024
- ETV Bharat: Section 144 imposed, internet suspended in Sandeshkhali, 10 Feb 2024
- IANS via The News Minute: Women protesters burn down TMC leader's poultry farm, 9 Feb 2024
- Tribune: Bengal BJP chief suffers a fall, taken to Basirhat hospital, 14 Feb 2024
- ETV Bharat: West Bengal BJP chief hospitalised after scuffle, 14 Feb 2024
- Business Standard: 'There's RSS base in Sandeshkhali', says Mamata Banerjee, 15 Feb 2024
- Tribune: Sandeshkhali violence: NCSC for President's rule in Bengal, 17 Feb 2024
- PTI via Business Standard: Another prime accused arrested in Sandeshkhali case, 18 Feb 2024
- PTI via The Hitavada: NCW chief visits Sandeshkhali, 20 Feb 2024
- Scroll: Prohibitory orders imposed in Sandeshkhali after fresh tensions, 23 Feb 2024
- Tribune: TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan arrested; suspended from party, 29 Feb 2024
- PTI via Deccan Herald: NCW chief meets President, recommends President's rule, 5 Mar 2024
- IANS via Morung Express: After prolonged drama, CBI finally gets Shahjahan's custody, 6 Mar 2024
- All India Radio: SC rejects West Bengal plea against CBI probe in Sandeshkhali attack, Mar 2024
- LiveLaw: Shameful even if 1% of claims found to be true, 4 Apr 2024
- Tribune: Highly shameful even if only 1 per cent of allegations true, 4 Apr 2024
- Tribune: Calcutta High Court orders CBI probe into crimes against women, land grabbing, 10 Apr 2024
- Business Today: Calcutta HC orders CBI probe into Sandeshkhali sexual assault case, 10 Apr 2024
- Deccan Chronicle: CBI files first FIR in Sandeshkhali case, 25 Apr 2024
- Scroll: Sexual harassment cases filed at behest of Suvendu Adhikari, claims video, 5 May 2024
- The Wire: Amidst questions over 'sting' video, Sandeshkhali returns to the news, 5 May 2024
- Business Standard: Sandeshkhali woman revokes rape case, alleges BJP coercion, 9 May 2024
- Tribune: Sandeshkhali victim withdraws sexual assault complaint, 10 May 2024
- Newslaundry: Sandeshkhali simmers amid a 'fabricated rape complaint', and TMC vs NCW, 10 May 2024
- PTI via Deccan Herald: New video claims 70 women received money to take part in protest, 12 May 2024
- Tribune: Shahjahan brain behind ED attack, says CBI chargesheet, May 2024
- ETV Bharat: CBI files charge sheet against Shahjahan Sheikh, 28 May 2024
- Scroll: Shahjahan Sheikh was key conspirator behind attack on ED officials, says CBI, 29 May 2024
- IndiaVotes: Basirhat Lok Sabha 2024 result (ECI data), accessed 12 Oct 2026
- OneIndia: Basirhat Lok Sabha election result, accessed 12 Oct 2026
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court dismisses West Bengal govt's plea against CBI probe, 8 Jul 2024
- Tribune: SC junks WB govt's plea challenging CBI probe order, 9 Jul 2024
- News Arena: TMC's Basirhat MP Nurul Islam passes away, 25 Sept 2024
- Deccan Herald: CBI arrests close aide of Sheikh Shahjahan in ED attack case, 26 Nov 2025
- All India Radio: Police arrest key suspect in attempt to murder of Shahjahan case witness, 22 Dec 2025
- National Herald: Calcutta High Court denies bail to Sheikh Shahjahan, 19 Mar 2026
- IANS via Hans India: Calcutta HC rejects Sheikh Shahjahan's bail plea, Mar 2026
- All India Radio: Suvendu Adhikari becomes first BJP CM of West Bengal, 9 May 2026
- IndiaVotes: Sandeshkhali Vidhan Sabha 2026 result (ECI data), accessed 12 Oct 2026
- IANS via Punjab Kesari: Bengal Police arrest two Trinamool leaders in 2024 ED attack case, 20 May 2026
- Indiahood (Bengali): Judge recuses from Shahjahan Sheikh bail hearing, 7 Oct 2026