West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Falta’s Jahangir Khan has now faced another major blow in the Calcutta High Court. The interim protection granted to him by the court has been withdrawn. On May 18, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya had granted protection to Jahangir Khan until May 26. On Tuesday, the matter came up for hearing before the vacation bench of Justice Parthasarathi Sen, where the court made it clear that there would be no further interim protection for him at this stage.

The re-election in Falta, Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking legal protection. On May 18, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya had directed that Jahangir Khan must fully cooperate with the police investigation. The court had also ordered that if he complied with this condition, no coercive action would be taken against him until May 26. The order was based on all cases registered up to that date.

Tuesday’s hearing, the court reiterated that there would be no continuation of interim protection. Justice Parthasarathi Sen observed that whether the allegations were correct or not, since complaints had been registered with the police, the petitioner was required to cooperate with the investigation. The judge further stated that he should surrender and cooperate with the inquiry process.

The issue of an FIR was also raised during the hearing. Jahangir Khan’s lawyer questioned the timing of the FIR, suggesting a change in the political context. However, the government lawyer countered this argument, stating that immediately after the protection was granted, the petitioner himself announced that he would not contest the election. The prosecution further argued that there were six FIRs lodged against him and that Jahangir Khan was one of the key reasons for the re-election being conducted in the constituency.