Sandeshkhali Showdown: Calcutta High Court Raps Mamata Banerjee Government

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government received a stern reprimand from the Calcutta High Court as it heard affidavits seeking probes into allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault from Sandeshkhali ahead of the Lok Sabha election. A bench led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam told Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which came under heavy fire after it was seen as shielding Sheikh Shahjahan - a local leader who is the key accused, it could not shirk accountability if the allegations are found to be true.