NIA arrests 72 in Mothabari road blockade, judicial officers' detention cases
Synopsis
The NIA's Mothabari probe — triggered by the alleged attack and detention of judicial officers during an electoral roll revision exercise in Malda — has now led to 72 arrests and chargesheets against 31 accused in four cases, all under a Supreme Court-monitored deadline. Eight of the 12 registered cases are still open.
Key Takeaways
The NIA arrested 4 more accused on 5 June in the Mothabari road blockade and judicial officers' detention cases, taking total arrests to 72 .
Violence erupted on 1 April at the Mothabari Block Office, Malda during protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The NIA filed chargesheets in 4 of 12 registered cases on 2 June , naming 31 accused .
The Supreme Court directed expeditious investigation; Chief Justice Surya Kant set a two-month deadline on 11 May .
Chargesheets are backed by CCTV footage and witness statements; 8 cases remain under investigation.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday, 5 June announced the arrest of four more accused persons in connection with four separate cases arising from road blockades and the alleged illegal detention of judicial officers during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at Mothabari in Malda district, West Bengal. The fresh arrests bring the total number of persons held by the NIA in these cases to 72.
What the Cases Involve
The cases stem from violence that erupted on 1 April at the Mothabari Block Office in Malda during protests linked to the electoral roll revision exercise. According to officials, judicial officers engaged in the SIR process allegedly came under attack while performing their official duties. Police rescued the officers from the protest site, but authorities claimed the convoy escorting them was attacked again as it left the area.
The accused have been charged under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the National Highways Act, 1956, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (WBMPO) Act, 1972.
Supreme Court Direction and Chargesheet Filing
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the NIA to complete its investigation in the Mothabari matter expeditiously. On 11 May, Chief Justice Surya Kant set a two-month deadline for the agency to wrap up its probe. Acting on that directive, the NIA filed chargesheets in four of the 12 registered cases on 2 June before a special NIA court in Kolkata.
A total of 31 persons have been named as accused in the four cases in which chargesheets have been filed. The remaining eight cases are still under investigation.
Evidence and Witness Statements
The chargesheets have been prepared on the basis of witness statements and digital evidence, including CCTV footage from locations where the road blockades were erected and where judicial officers were reportedly heckled. Investigators say the footage provides direct corroboration of the alleged offences.
Significance and What Comes Next
The Mothabari incidents are notable for involving the alleged obstruction and detention of judicial officers — personnel of the courts — during an official government exercise, a charge that drew the Supreme Court's direct attention. This is among the relatively rare instances where the apex court has personally monitored an NIA investigation timeline. With chargesheets now filed in four cases and the two-month deadline running, the agency faces pressure to close out the remaining eight cases before the court-set deadline lapses. Legal proceedings before the special NIA court in Kolkata are expected to gather pace in the coming weeks.
Point of View
The NIA is under unusual institutional pressure. The use of CCTV evidence and digital forensics as the chargesheet backbone also reflects a maturing investigative approach, but the pace — 72 arrests and chargesheets in just over two months — raises questions about whether thoroughness is keeping up with speed.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Mothabari in Malda, West Bengal?
On 1 April, violence broke out at the Mothabari Block Office in Malda during protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Judicial officers conducting the SIR exercise were allegedly attacked and illegally detained; the convoy escorting them was reportedly attacked again as it departed.
How many people has the NIA arrested in the Mothabari cases?
As of 5 June, the NIA has arrested a total of 72 persons across the four separate cases linked to the Mothabari incidents. Four of these arrests were made on 5 June itself.
Has the Supreme Court intervened in the Mothabari investigation?
Yes. The Supreme Court directed the NIA to complete its investigation expeditiously. Chief Justice Surya Kant issued a two-month deadline on 11 May, prompting the NIA to file chargesheets in four cases on 2 June before a special NIA court in Kolkata.
Under which laws have the accused been charged?
The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the National Highways Act 1956, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (WBMPO) Act 1972.
How many cases are still under investigation?
Of the 12 total cases registered in the Mothabari matter, chargesheets have been filed in 4 cases naming 31 accused. The remaining 8 cases are still under active investigation by the NIA.
