Shankar Panja @ Sankar Panja v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.
December 20, 2023 AD 5 Ct. No.14 SG WPA 26780 of 2023 Shankar Panja @ Sankar Panja vs.
The State of West Bengal and others Mr. Amit Ranjan Pati Ms. Swastika Chowdhury ... for the petitioner Mr. Biswabrata Basu Mallick Mr. Tamal Taru Panda ... for the State Report filed by the State is taken on record. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. Several irregularities were detected in an inquiry into the activities of Patna Samabay Krishi Unnayan Samity Limited, the respondent No.11 herein. Crores of rupees were embezzled, but the police did not even register any FIR. The petitioner was constrained to move an application under Section 156(3) of the Code. Even after registration of an FIR, the investigation has not been done property. Neither were relevant documents seized nor was any accused arrested. After the petitioner moved this Court and directed the investigation to be conducted by the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur, there has been a little progress in the investigation. The prime accused has not been arrested because he has got strong political links. None of the bank accounts where money might have gone has been frozen.
Learned advocate for the State relies on the report and submits as follows. After the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur was entrusted with the investigation of the case, the investigation has proceeded further significantly. A number of documents were seized and witnesses were examined. Three accused were arrested. Steps are being taken for getting handwriting collected and compared. Raids are being held to apprehend the other accused. Huge anomalies were found in the loans and the related articles have been seized.
It appears that there has been some progress in the investigation of the case after the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur took over the investigation. Let the investigating agency explore the possibility of tracing the money trail and if necessary, freezing of suspicious bank accounts.
It shall be open to the Superintendent of Police, Paschim Medinipur to form a SIT for investigation of the case in which the DSP, Paschim Medinipur should be a part and the investigation shall be conducted under the direct supervision of the SP.
Let the investigation be concluded expeditiously and in accordance with law.
No further order need be passed at this stage. With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.
Urgent certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance of all requisite formalities.
Parties shall act on a server copy downloaded from the official website of this Court.
[ Jay Sengupta, J. ]