The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deputy inspector general to probe the scrutiny of nomination papers filed by a Trinamool Congress candidate from Minakhan block during the recently concluded panchayat elections.
It was alleged that the nomination was accepted even as the candidate was not present in India at the time of filing his papers.
The DIG will probe the matter under the supervision of a retired HC judge, the single-bench of Justice Amrita Sinha said.
The bench took an exception to the fact that FIR in the matter was filed against “unknown persons”, even though the nomination was submitted in person and the entire process was videographed.
Justice Sinha asked the Registrar General to obtain the consent of Justice ( Retd) Debi Prosad Dey to head the commission being constituted for enquiring into the case.
The court asked the CID to file its report on the matter within four weeks after which the case will be heard again.
A Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate in his petition last month had alleged that Moinuddin Gazi, TMC gram panchayat candidate from Minakhan in North 24 Parganas district, was in Saudi Arabia during the nomination period but his nomination was accepted by the local block development office.
The petitioner had also submitted a communique from the Haj Committee that Moinuddin was in Saudi Arabia since June 4 and was scheduled to stay there till July 16.
The nomination process for the panchayat election started on June 9 and concluded on June 15.
The petitioner also alleged that such a thing would not have been possible unless the candidate concerned had a nexus with the local block development office as well as the returning officer.
Meanwhile, a PIL was filed in the High Court on Thursday, seeking FIRs against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary and party MP Abhishek Banerjee for the violence in the panchayat polls. The PIL was filed by Anindya Sundar Das, a lawyer.
Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji admitted the PIL and a hearing is likely to take place later in the week.
In his application, the petitioner alleged that it was because of the provocative statements by the chief minister and Abhishek that violence broke out and resulted in the deterioration of the law and order situations in West Bengal.
