Supreme Court Clears Way for NIA Chargesheet in Judicial Officers Protest Case

New Delhi, April 25: The Supreme Court of India has granted permission to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file its chargesheet upon completion of the investigation into the shocking confinement of judicial officers in West Bengal’s Malda district earlier this month.
The decision comes in connection with the April 1 incident that triggered nationwide concern after a group of seven judicial officers was allegedly surrounded and unlawfully detained by a mob for several hours. The apex court, while hearing the matter on Friday, observed that the investigating agency is free to proceed with filing the chargesheet before a competent court once its probe reaches completion.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, was apprised of the latest developments by Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the NIA. He informed the bench that a detailed status report outlining the progress of the investigation had already been submitted.
Taking note of the submission, the court stated that the agency would not be required to file additional status reports for now, allowing investigators to focus entirely on the case. The law officer emphasized that the probe team is currently deeply engaged in gathering evidence and examining all angles related to the incident.
The case stems from a disturbing episode in Malda, where judicial officers including three women and a young child were reportedly held captive for over nine hours without access to food or water. The incident occurred during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process involving large-scale scrutiny of voter lists.
According to official data, nearly 700 judicial officers from multiple states, including West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, have been deployed to handle more than 60 lakh objections raised during the revision exercise.
The top court had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the matter after receiving a letter from the Calcutta High Court, which described the incident as both alarming and unprecedented. Acting on the court’s directive, the probe was subsequently handed over to the NIA following a complaint lodged by the Election Commission of India.
In earlier proceedings, the bench had also raised concerns about the possible affiliations of those arrested in connection with the case, seeking clarity on whether any political links were involved. The Chief Justice underscored the need for a thorough and conclusive investigation, stressing that the matter must reach its logical end.
Additionally, the court has ensured continued protection for officials engaged in the electoral revision process. It directed that security arrangements for judicial officers will remain in force until the completion of the upcoming assembly elections and cannot be altered without prior approval.
The Malda judicial officers gherao case has since become a significant point of concern for the judiciary, highlighting issues of safety and accountability in sensitive administrative assignments. With the investigation progressing under close judicial supervision, the focus now shifts to the findings that will emerge once the chargesheet is formally filed.