NIA doesn’t seek custody, Mofakkerul to be in jail till Apr 17
Times of India | 9 April 2026
Malda: Advocate Mofakkerul Islam, the alleged mastermind of the Mothabari violence, was sent to judicial custody by the chief judicial magistrate of Malda on Wednesday after the NIA, which has taken over the probe, did not seek his custody. He will be in jail custody till April 17, when the matter will be heard next.
Islam was arrested at Bagdogra Airport on April 3 in connection with the April 1 incident at Mothabari when judicial officers were gheraoed for hours.
Islam's lawyer Santu Mia said: "We have argued that Islam accidentally came upon the road blockade on National Highway 12 and addressed the agitators. He had no ill intention. Instead, he wanted to mediate between the agitators and the administration to end the stalemate. He had no connection wit the attack on the judicial officers, which took place more than 20km away from the spot of his speech."
Speaking to the media, Islam denied involvement in any violence. "What I did was show my solidarity with the thousands of voters who were deleted from the electoral roll after the SIR. This movement is going on in many parts of the state, not only in Sujapur, and I will stand by them," he said while denying links to any political party, including AIMIM.
he had merely expressed solidarity with voters allegedly removed from electoral rolls after the SIR and claimed the protest movement was active in several parts of the state. He also denied links to any political party, including AIMIM.
Islam's driver remains in jail till April 10 and the other accused till April 12.