CBI arrests Kader Molla, 9 others in 2019 Bengal post-poll violence murders
Synopsis
The CBI has arrested Kader Molla — the most trusted aide of jailed TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan — along with nine others for the alleged murder of three BJP activists in Sandeshkhali in June 2019. The arrests come after the Calcutta High Court intervened, finding that the West Bengal Police's CID had deliberately omitted Shahjahan's name from its own chargesheet.
Key Takeaways
The CBI arrested 10 accused individuals on Wednesday in connection with 2019 post-poll violence in West Bengal.
Kader Molla , the closest aide of suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan , is among those arrested.
The arrests relate to the murder of BJP activists Debdas Mondal , Pradip Mondal , and Sukanta Mandal at Nazat, Sandeshkhali on 8 June 2019 .
The West Bengal Police CID had omitted the names of 28 accused , including Shahjahan, from its chargesheet — prompting the Calcutta High Court to order a CBI probe.
Sheikh Shahjahan is separately in jail as the alleged mastermind of the attack on ED officials on 5 January 2024 .
All 10 arrested accused had been absconding since the case was handed to the CBI.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested 10 accused individuals in connection with post-poll violence cases in West Bengal following the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, including Kader Molla, described as the most trusted aide of suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in a case that has been mired in allegations of state police cover-up for over five years.
The Sandeshkhali Murders of 2019
According to CBI insiders, the arrests are directly linked to the killing of three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists — Debdas Mondal, Pradip Mondal, and Sukanta Mandal — at Nazat in the Sandeshkhali area on 8 June 2019. The violence reportedly erupted over the hoisting of a party flag, following which the victims were allegedly hacked by Molla and his associates, purportedly at the instigation of Shahjahan.
How the CBI Took Over the Case
The initial probe was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police during the previous TMC regime. While the CID filed a chargesheet, it conspicuously omitted the names of 28 accused persons, including that of Shahjahan himself. The victims' families subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the state police had deliberately shielded Shahjahan and his associates. The High Court found merit in their arguments and ordered a CBI investigation.
Who Is Sheikh Shahjahan
Sheikh Shahjahan is a now-suspended TMC leader from Sandeshkhali who is currently in judicial custody. The CBI has identified him as the alleged mastermind behind the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials that took place outside his residence in Sandeshkhali on 5 January 2024 — a separate case that drew national attention and triggered a political firestorm in West Bengal.
The Accused Were Absconding
Molla and the nine other individuals arrested on Wednesday had reportedly been evading law enforcement since the case was transferred to the CBI. Their arrests end a prolonged period of abscondence and signal that the central agency is moving to close in on the broader network allegedly involved in the post-poll violence.
Wider Context: Bengal Post-Poll Violence
The 2019 post-poll violence in West Bengal remains one of the most politically charged criminal investigations in recent Indian history. The CBI is handling multiple cases arising from clashes between TMC and BJP workers in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha results. This comes amid continuing scrutiny of law enforcement impartiality in the state, with the Calcutta High Court having intervened in several such matters. The latest arrests are expected to intensify political tensions ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.
Point of View
Yet his political network remained intact long enough for all 10 accused to abscond for years. The real question is not whether the CBI can secure convictions, but whether the systemic failure that allowed these accused to evade arrest will itself face any scrutiny.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kader Molla and why was he arrested?
Kader Molla is described as the most trusted aide of suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan. He was arrested by the CBI for his alleged role in the murder of three BJP activists in Sandeshkhali on 8 June 2019, along with nine other accused who had been absconding.
What is the 2019 Bengal post-poll violence case?
Following the 2019 Lok Sabha election results, clashes broke out between TMC and BJP workers across West Bengal. In Sandeshkhali, three BJP activists — Debdas Mondal, Pradip Mondal, and Sukanta Mandal — were allegedly killed on 8 June 2019. The CBI is probing multiple such incidents on the orders of the Calcutta High Court.
Why did the Calcutta High Court order a CBI probe?
The victims' families petitioned the Calcutta High Court alleging that the West Bengal Police's CID had deliberately omitted the names of 28 accused persons, including Sheikh Shahjahan, from its chargesheet. The High Court found merit in these arguments and transferred the investigation to the CBI.
Who is Sheikh Shahjahan?
Sheikh Shahjahan is a now-suspended TMC leader from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. He is currently in judicial custody as the alleged mastermind of an attack on Enforcement Directorate officials at his residence on 5 January 2024, and is also named in the 2019 post-poll violence murders.
What happens next in the case?
With 10 accused now in CBI custody, the agency is expected to seek their remand for interrogation to uncover the broader network behind the 2019 killings. The case is likely to face further court scrutiny, with the Calcutta High Court already having taken an active oversight role in Bengal post-poll violence matters.
