NIA court sends 15 more accused to 14-day custody in Bengal hostage case
Synopsis
With 15 fresh arrests remanded to judicial custody, the NIA's sweep in the West Bengal judicial officers' hostage case now accounts for 65 accused — and the Supreme Court is watching closely. The April 1 incident, in which seven court-appointed officers were held hostage during an electoral revision exercise in Malda, has evolved into one of the most high-profile NIA investigations in Bengal in recent years.
Key Takeaways
A special NIA court in Kolkata remanded 15 more accused to 14-day judicial custody on Tuesday, 27 May 2025 .
Total arrests in the West Bengal judicial officers' hostage case have reached 65 .
The arrests followed overnight raids across Mothabari and Kaliachak in Malda district .
Seven judicial officers were held hostage on 1 April 2025 at the Kaliachak-2 block office during the SIR exercise .
The Supreme Court has directed the NIA to conclude the investigation at the earliest; Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered security arrangements for involved officers to remain in place.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kolkata on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, remanded 15 more accused persons to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the West Bengal judicial officers' hostage case. The arrests, made during night-long raids spanning Monday night to Tuesday morning, push the total number of persons arrested in the case to 65.
The Arrests and Court Proceedings
NIA sleuths conducted overnight search operations across Mothabari and Kaliachak in Malda district, detaining the 15 individuals before transporting them to the state capital. The accused were produced before the special NIA court in Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon, and following a brief hearing, the presiding judge ordered their remand for 14 days.
What Happened on April 1
On 1 April 2025, seven judicial officers posted at Mothabari were surrounded and held hostage by a group of violent protesters at the Kaliachak-2 block office until late night. The officers had been appointed by Justice Sujoy Paul, Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, to carry out work under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise — a process aimed at adjudicating and disposing of names on a judicial list. Allegations of harassment against the detained officers were also reported. It was alleged that individuals whose names had been omitted from the SIR list instigated the protests.
Investigation Transferred to NIA on Supreme Court Order
The Election Commission of India (ECI) transferred the investigation to the NIA on the direction of the Supreme Court. Prior to the handover, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police had arrested Mofakkerul Islam, an advocate, claiming he was one of the masterminds of the protest programme. After the NIA assumed charge, it systematically identified and arrested accused persons, with the tally now reaching 65.
Supreme Court Directions and Status Update
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court directed the NIA to conclude the investigation at the earliest. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant ordered that security arrangements for the judicial officers involved in the SIR exercise remain in place until further orders. The NIA submitted its investigation status report to the apex court on 11 May 2025. The case has drawn significant national attention, highlighting concerns over the safety of judicial personnel during electoral and administrative exercises.
Point of View
And that the alleged instigators were reportedly those dropped from the SIR list, points to a deeply politicised local dynamic. The real question mainstream coverage is not asking: whether the scale of arrests reflects genuine evidence or a broader signalling exercise ahead of the next electoral cycle in Bengal.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the West Bengal judicial officers' hostage case?
It refers to the 1 April 2025 incident in which seven judicial officers posted at Mothabari in Malda district were surrounded and held hostage by violent protesters at the Kaliachak-2 block office during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The officers had been appointed by Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul to adjudicate names on a judicial list.
Why were the judicial officers targeted?
It was alleged that individuals whose names were omitted from the SIR list led and instigated the protests that resulted in the hostage situation. Allegations of harassment against the detained officers were also reported.
How did the NIA get involved in this case?
The Election Commission of India transferred the investigation to the NIA on the order of the Supreme Court. Before the handover, the CID of West Bengal Police had arrested advocate Mofakkerul Islam, who was claimed to be one of the masterminds of the protest.
What has the Supreme Court said about the investigation?
The Supreme Court directed the NIA to conclude the investigation at the earliest. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also ordered that security arrangements for the judicial officers involved in the SIR exercise remain in place until further orders. The NIA submitted its status report to the apex court on 11 May 2025.
How many people have been arrested in the case so far?
With the 15 arrests made during overnight raids on 26-27 May 2025, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 65.
