SC hearing on Danish Sheikh’s return deferred by two weeks

The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred by another two weeks the hearing on the return of Danish Sheikh and three others. Danish Sheikh is the husband of Sunali Khatun of Birbhum, who had been deported to Bangladesh along with her eight-year-old son but returned to India late last year following directions from the apex court.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, sought two weeks’ time, which the court granted.

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In September last year, the Calcutta High Court had directed that the deported persons be brought back to India. The Supreme Court later issued similar directions to the Centre.

Although Sunali Khatun, pregnant at the time, and her eight-year-old son were brought back, the remaining persons continue to be lodged in a jail in Bangladesh.

Bhadu Sheikh, Sunali Biwi’s father, had urged the Supreme Court to take up the matter for urgent hearing. In January this year, Sunali gave birth to a son and is currently staying with her parents in a village in Birbhum.

National general secretary of the Trinamul Congress and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee met her at her residence during his visit to Rampurhat. Samirul Islam, Rajya Sabha MP from Birbhum, is also looking into the issue of bringing the remaining four persons back to India.

Sunali and her family were living at Rohini in Delhi when the local Police picked them up, identified them as Bangladeshis and deported them to Bangladesh through the BSF.