NIA arrests Malda leader as SIR violence case toll reaches 30
Synopsis
The NIA's 30th arrest in the Malda SIR violence case targets a local leader who allegedly incited a mob that detained judicial officers and injured nine police personnel on 1 April — a probe born from a rare Supreme Court suo motu order and one that is steadily mapping what investigators call a coordinated pre-poll conspiracy in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
NIA arrested Sayem Chowdhary alias Babu Chowdhary of Mothbari, Malda on 25 June 2026 in the SIR violence case.
Total arrests in case RC-14/2026/NIA/DLI now stand at 30 .
Chowdhary allegedly incited a mob at BDO Office Block-II on 1 April , leading to the illegal detention of judicial officers and injuries to 9 police personnel .
NIA is probing over a dozen cases of mob protests and illegal detention across Malda during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral roll exercise.
The probe was initiated on the orders of the Supreme Court , which took suo motu cognisance of the April violence.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, 25 June 2026, arrested a local leader from West Bengal's Malda district in connection with pre-poll mob violence, blockades, and the illegal detention of judicial officers during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in April. The arrest brings the total number of accused held in the case to 30.
Who Was Arrested
The arrested individual has been identified as Sayem Chowdhary, also known as Babu Chowdhary, a resident of Mothbari in Malda. He was taken into custody by an NIA team following questioning at the agency's branch office in Kolkata. The case is registered under reference number RC-14/2026/NIA/DLI.
What Investigators Found
According to officials, Chowdhary was identified as a key accused in the illegal detention of judicial officers at the BDO Office Block-II on 1 April. Investigators allege he was part of the mob that disrupted law and order and attacked police personnel on official duty, leaving nine police personnel injured.
Notably, Chowdhary reportedly delivered an incitement speech outside the BDO office a day before the incident, allegedly urging people to participate in violent protests. Officials stated he had 'conspired with other co-accused persons and participated actively in the unlawful assemblies that resorted to violence, intimidation, and obstruction during the SIR exercise.'
Scale of the NIA Probe
The NIA is investigating over a dozen cases of mob protests and illegal detention of judicial officers across Malda district during the SIR electoral roll revision exercise held ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls. The agency stated it is continuing to identify and track all accused as part of what it describes as a 'bigger conspiracy' behind the large-scale pre-poll violence.
This is the 30th arrest in the case, underscoring the breadth of the alleged coordinated effort to disrupt the electoral process. The NIA's involvement itself signals the severity with which the Centre has treated the incident.
Supreme Court and the Suo Motu Order
The NIA probe was initiated on the directives of the Supreme Court, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the April violence in Malda. The court's intervention elevated what began as a state law-and-order matter into a nationally scrutinised investigation, compelling a federal-level response. The case is being watched closely as West Bengal heads into an election cycle.
What Comes Next
With 30 arrests made and investigations spanning over a dozen separate cases, the NIA has indicated that further arrests remain likely. The agency's focus, according to officials, is on mapping the full network of alleged conspirators behind the coordinated disruption of the SIR exercise.
Point of View
Court-mandated effort to hold accountable those who turned an electoral roll revision exercise into a flashpoint for violence against judicial officers. The Supreme Court's suo motu intervention is the real story here: it signals that the judiciary views the Malda incidents not as isolated law-and-order failures but as a structural threat to electoral integrity. West Bengal's pre-poll period has historically been volatile, but the detention of judicial officers — officers of the court — raises the stakes considerably. If investigators do establish a coordinated conspiracy, the political fallout ahead of the Assembly polls could be significant.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sayem Chowdhary and why was he arrested by the NIA?
Sayem Chowdhary, also known as Babu Chowdhary, is a local leader from Mothbari in West Bengal's Malda district. He was arrested by the NIA on 25 June 2026 for allegedly leading and inciting a mob that illegally detained judicial officers at BDO Office Block-II on 1 April and injured nine police personnel during the SIR electoral roll exercise.
What is the SIR exercise that triggered the Malda violence?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral roll revision exercise conducted ahead of Assembly polls to update voter lists. In Malda district, the April 2026 SIR exercise was disrupted by mob protests that allegedly led to blockades, violence, and the illegal detention of judicial officers overseeing the process.
How many people has the NIA arrested in the Malda SIR violence case so far?
As of 25 June 2026, the NIA has arrested 30 accused in the case registered as RC-14/2026/NIA/DLI. The agency has indicated that further arrests are likely as investigations continue.
Why is the NIA — and not state police — investigating the Malda violence?
The NIA took up the investigation on the directives of the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognisance of the April violence in Malda. The court's intervention elevated the matter from a state law-and-order issue to a federally investigated case, given the severity of the alleged attacks on judicial officers.
What is the current status of the NIA investigation?
The NIA is actively probing over a dozen cases of mob protests and illegal detention across Malda district. Officials say the agency is working to identify and track all accused as part of what it describes as a larger conspiracy behind the coordinated pre-poll violence.
