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A mentioning was made by a group of advocates appearing before the court of Acting Chief Justice, Calcutta High Court, earlier today, regarding the non-formation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigating the West Bengal Post Poll violence matter as was earlier ordered by the court. Court noted that it was aware of the issue and will take necessary steps in this regard.

The division bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal remarked that it knew that the SIT isn't working. "Necessary steps will be taken in this regard," the bench added.

It is to be noted here, that in pursuance of the said order of the High Court, the CBI has already formed a team and started the investigation. The West Bengal state team, on the other hand, is yet to be formed.

Pronouncing the verdict in the West Bengal Post Poll Violence matter on Aug 19, 2021, the Calcutta High had ordered an inquiry into the matter. It was said that the CBI would investigate major incidents like those of murder or rape and the SIT would investigate less important incidents such as vandalism, arson, beatings and evictions.

The SIT is to be constituted comprising of West Bengal IPS officers including Soumen Mitra and Ranbir Kumar. The team is to be headed by Suman Bala Sahu. The SIT will also be supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The two investigating teams, CBI and SIT, have been ordered to submit their reports within 6 weeks.

On Aug 19, a 5-Judge Bench comprising Chief Justice (Acting) Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice I. P. Mukerji, Justice Harish Tandon, Justice Soumen Sen, and Justice Subrata Talukdar pronounced the judgment.

Pronouncing the verdict, along with directions for investigation in the matter, the court also directed for the State of West Bengal to pay compensation to the victims of crime and to commit cooperation with CBI and other authorities.

The issue of post-poll violence dates back to the state polls of West Bengal which took place in April-May 2021. Countless incidents of violence, allegedly at behest of the Ruling party, the Mamata Banerjee led TMC have emerged earmarking retributive violence, aimed at opposition party workers and voters in the state.

The CBI has started the investigation, as per the court order. Investigators have visited many places and talked to the families of the victims and two people have been arrested.