Bengal govt withdraws NIA probe challenge in Beldanga case
Times of India | 13 June 2026
Kolkata: The Bengal govt on Friday withdrew its petition challenging the NIA probe into the Beldanga case, which was pending before a division bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.
The Trinamool govt had filed the petition over the alleged rioting that took place at Murshidabad's Beldanga in Jan 2026. Considering the change in govt in May, the CJ had asked whether the govt would maintain its stance of challenging the central agency probe. The bench will now hear the case on June 30, along with other petitions filed in this matter.
Bengal's challenge was based on the argument that NIA can only investigate "Scheduled Offences"—crimes that threaten national security and sovereignty, or involve terrorism, counterfeit currency, or cyber-terrorism. The state had argued that the Beldanga incident was a case of rioting and, therefore, a local law-and-order issue.
NIA had invoked Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act — a "Scheduled Offence" under the NIA Act — labelling the localised rioting as "economic terrorism". The Supreme Court subsequently directed Calcutta HC to examine this specific issue.
Meanwhile, a special NIA court in Kolkata on Thursday granted bail to two individuals, including the main accused and lawyer Mofakkerul Islam, who were arrested for allegedly confining judicial officers in Malda's Mothabari.
On April 1, an agitated crowd confined seven judges, who were engaged in Special Intensive Revision work, at the Kaliachak-II block office. The incident sparked widespread tension, leading to road blockades in various areas, including Mothabari and Sujapur.
The Supreme Court had ordered an NIA probe into the incident. NIA has submitted charge sheets in four cases related to the Mothabari incident. The charge sheets name 31 individuals, including Mofakkerul.