NIA summons Trinamool leaders in Bengal judicial officers hostage case
Synopsis
The NIA has summoned local TMC leaders in connection with the alleged nine-hour hostage-taking of Supreme Court-appointed judicial officers in Malda's Mothabari — a case now at the centre of Bengal's post-election reckoning. With 52 arrests made and the agency zeroing in on TMC-linked figures, the probe could have significant political consequences as vote counting begins on 4 May.
Key Takeaways
The NIA has summoned local TMC leaders to Kaliachak police station in Malda district on 3 May 2025 .
TMC election agent Abdul Rahman and block president Mohammad Sariul are among those summoned.
Judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice were allegedly held for nearly nine hours in Mothabari .
A total of 52 people have been arrested; the Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission to hand the case to the NIA.
Tension has erupted in the area following the summons, with vote counting for West Bengal's 294 Assembly seats due on 4 May .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned local All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders for questioning in connection with the harassment and alleged nine-hour hostage-taking of judicial officers in Mothabari, Malda district, West Bengal, an official confirmed on Sunday, 3 May 2025. The summoned leaders have been directed to appear at Kaliachak police station by evening.
Who Has Been Summoned
Among those served notices is Abdul Rahman, the election agent of TMC candidate Sabina Yasmin from the Sujapur constituency. Rahman, who also serves as superintendent of the forest and land department of Malda Zilla Parishad, reportedly received the notice late on Saturday night. Mohammad Sariul, the TMC block president of Kaliachak Block I, has also been called in for questioning. Local sources indicate that several other known TMC leaders and activists in the area have received similar notices.
The Mothabari Incident: What Happened
The judicial officers in question were appointed by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to oversee the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list — a process to verify and settle names under consideration. Last month, the officers were allegedly surrounded and held inside the Kaliachak-II block office for nearly nine hours, kept there until late at night. It is alleged that a section of individuals whose names were omitted from the SIR list organised the protest that led to the officers being confined. Allegations of harassment against the officers have also been made.
How the NIA Got Involved
The Election Commission of India (ECI), acting on orders of the Supreme Court, transferred the investigation to the NIA. Prior to the handover, the state police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had arrested Mofakkerul Islam, described by officials as one of the alleged masterminds of the protest. A total of 52 people have been arrested so far in connection with the incident — some are in NIA custody, while others remain in judicial custody.
Ground Situation After Summons
Tension has reportedly erupted in the area following the issuance of the summons. The developments come in the immediate aftermath of the West Bengal Assembly elections, in which voting was conducted in two phases — on 23 April and 29 April — across all 294 Assembly seats. Vote counting is scheduled for 4 May, making the political climate in the region particularly sensitive.
What Happens Next
With the NIA now leading the probe, investigators are expected to widen the questioning to establish the chain of command behind the alleged hostage-taking. The agency's focus on TMC-linked figures signals that the investigation is moving beyond ground-level actors toward those who may have organised or facilitated the incident. The outcome of the vote count on 4 May is likely to further shape the political and legal fallout from the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the NIA summoned Trinamool Congress leaders in West Bengal?
The NIA has summoned TMC leaders for questioning over the alleged harassment and nine-hour confinement of judicial officers conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Mothabari, Malda district. The Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission to transfer the investigation to the NIA.
What happened to the judicial officers in Mothabari, Malda?
Judicial officers appointed by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court were allegedly surrounded and held inside the Kaliachak-II block office for nearly nine hours during the SIR voter list revision process. They faced allegations of harassment, reportedly by individuals whose names were omitted from the SIR list.
How many people have been arrested in the Mothabari judicial officers case?
A total of 52 people have been arrested so far. Some are in NIA custody and others in judicial custody. The state police CID had earlier arrested Mofakkerul Islam, described as one of the alleged masterminds, before the case was transferred to the NIA.
Who are the key figures summoned by the NIA?
Abdul Rahman, the election agent of TMC candidate Sabina Yasmin from Sujapur and superintendent of the forest and land department of Malda Zilla Parishad, has been summoned. So has Mohammad Sariul, the TMC block president of Kaliachak Block I, along with other local TMC leaders and activists.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list?
The SIR is a process ordered by the courts to verify and settle names on the electoral roll. Judicial officers appointed by the Calcutta High Court were overseeing the revision in Mothabari when they were allegedly confined and harassed by a group protesting the omission of their names from the list.
