KOLKATA : The Calcutta High Court on Monday put off for three weeks the hearing on the CBI report on the March 14 police firing at Nandigram and other affidavits relating to the violence, including a voluminous one submitted by the West Bengal Government.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice P.C. Ghose, also refused to pass order on a petitioner's prayer that the CBI be directed to resume its inquiry. It would decide only after studying the affidavits.At one point, when matters turned noisy, the court said it could not be allowed to be reduced to a political battlefield.

The Bench concurred with Advocate General Balai Roy that Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi should not be dragged into any further controversy on Nandigram.

It directed the CBI to preserve all evidence and materials in a sealed cover till further direction.

The CBI presented a preliminary report on March 22 and Mr. Roy too submitted the affidavit the same day.

The developments at Nandigram from January 3 to the day of the police firing are detailed in the affidavit that runs to 400 pages, including the annexure.

It says the police could not investigate at least 35 cases lodged in different "thanas" as they were unable to enter these areas.

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