The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued a firm directive to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), ordering the completion of its investigation into the April 1 mob violence in West Bengal’s Malda district within two months. The case involves the harrowing nine-hour confinement of seven judicial officers, including three women and a five-year-old child, by a mob during an intensive voter list revision process.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized that the agency must file its final report before the competent court immediately upon concluding the probe. “What is the position of investigation? Is it complete?” the bench questioned during the proceedings, underscoring the need for a “logical conclusion” to the incident.
The incident dates back to April 1, when a mob surrounded and confined seven judicial officers who were part of a massive deployment of 700 officials from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand. These officers were tasked with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, managing over 60 lakh objections regarding exclusions from the electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter following a letter from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The letter detailed how the officers were held captive for over nine hours without access to food or water. Following the apex court’s intervention, the NIA took over the investigation based on a complaint from the Election Commission.
During Monday’s hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the NIA, informed the bench that a detailed status report would be filed. However, the court signaled its intent for a swift resolution.
“We are, however, of the view that let the NIA complete the investigation at the earliest, preferably within a period of two months,” the bench observed. The judges further noted, “You file your charge sheet. The law will take its own course.”
The Chief Justice also raised questions regarding the identity of the perpetrators, specifically inquiring if those arrested for the gherao (blockade) possessed any “political background.”
The Supreme Court has maintained a strict watch over the safety of the judicial officers involved in the electoral process. On April 13, the bench had ordered that the security cover provided to these officers must remain in place until the conclusion of the assembly elections and cannot be withdrawn without the court’s express permission.
This latest order follows a previous ruling on April 24, where the top court had already granted the NIA permission to file its charge sheet as soon as the investigation concluded.
