The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, 25 June arrested Congress leader Sayem Chowdhury in connection with the alleged harassment and illegal confinement of judicial officers engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this year. Chowdhury, also known as Babu Chowdhury, was taken into custody following prolonged questioning at the agency's Kolkata office.

Background: The Mothabari BDO Siege

The case centres on a siege at the Block Development Office (BDO) in Mothabari in April, where seven judges carrying out SIR-related electoral roll duties were allegedly confined and their vehicles attacked. The incident occurred in the run-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections, raising serious concerns about pre-poll violence targeting judicial officers.

Chowdhury is a former Congress candidate from the Mothabari Assembly constituency. According to NIA officials, investigators have reportedly obtained video footage in which he is seen making provocative remarks against the SIR process and judicial officers. The agency also suspects his involvement in the attack on the judges' vehicles as they were returning from the BDO office.

Why He Was Not Arrested Earlier

Chowdhury was initially questioned by NIA investigators shortly after the agency took over the probe in April, but was not arrested at the time due to insufficient evidence. Fresh evidence gathered subsequently led to his summons to Kolkata and his eventual arrest, according to sources.

Scale of the Investigation

So far, 72 people have been arrested in the case, with charge sheets filed against 31 accused. Earlier arrests include Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidate Shahjahan Ali Qadri, who was later taken into NIA custody and chargesheeted, and ISF leader Golam Rabbani, who was also arrested in connection with the case.

The NIA has stated it is investigating over a dozen cases of mob protests and illegal detention of judicial officers during the SIR exercise across Malda district, as part of what it describes as a larger conspiracy behind large-scale pre-poll violence in the state.

What Comes Next

The agency confirmed it is continuing its probe to identify and track all accused involved across the various cases. With charge sheets already filed against 31 of the 72 arrested individuals, further legal proceedings are expected as investigators build out the conspiracy angle. The arrest of a Congress leader adds a significant political dimension to a case that has already drawn scrutiny over alleged interference with electoral processes.