The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered CBI probe into grievous cases such as murder and rape in alleged post-poll violence in Bengal.

A five-judge bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal also ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all other offences related to the alleged post-poll violence.

The bench said both the investigations will be monitored by the court.

It directed the central agency to file a report on its investigation in the next six weeks.

The SIT will comprise IPS officers Director General (Telecommunications) Suman Bala Sahoo, Calcutta Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar.

The court had ordered the National Human Rights Commission to set up an eight-member committee to visit the clash-hit areas and meet people allegedly attacked by supporters of the Trinamul Congress.

The committee submitted a report to the court admitting the petitioners’ contention of post-poll violence by the ruling party. The report recommended that each incident be probed by an independent investigating agency like the CBI.

The state government opposed the NHRC recommendations. Appearing for the state and police, advocates Kapil Sibbal and Abhisekh Manu Singhvi argued that members of the committee were BJP activists and the report was politically biased.

Appearing for the NHRC, advocate Mahesh Jethmalani claimed the bench should hand over each case to an independent agency for probe.