The Supreme Court in India has questioned why the West Bengal government has come in as a petitioner to protect the interests of private individuals in the Sandeshkhali matter. The court was hearing the state government's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's April 10 order, which directed a CBI investigation into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. The state government has argued that the high court's order demoralised the state machinery, including the police force, and usurped the powers of the state police to investigate any cognisable offence in the area.