Kolkata, 20 April (H.S.) : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to 15 accused in the Beldanga violence case in Murshidabad district.
The agency placed its appeal before a division bench comprising Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray.
The NIA told the court that it is examining, under directions of the Supreme Court, whether provisions of Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are applicable in the case. However, before the probe could be completed, a lower court granted bail to 15 accused persons, prompting the agency to seek cancellation of their bail.
The High Court has fixed Tuesday for the next hearing in the matter. Justice Banerjee observed that if the NIA presents sufficient grounds, the bail granted to the accused may be cancelled.
The Beldanga violence had earlier reached the High Court through public interest litigations, including one filed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. During those proceedings, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen had observed that the Centre could hand over the probe to the NIA if it deemed fit. The state government had also been allowed to seek additional central forces if required.
The West Bengal government challenged that order in the Supreme Court. A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi later noted that the case had already been handed over to the NIA around a month earlier and that the agency had registered an FIR. However, the apex court did not immediately rule on whether Section 15 of the UAPA would apply.
The Supreme Court had directed the NIA to submit a sealed-cover report before the High Court indicating whether prima facie material existed to invoke the anti-terror law. Sources said that report is yet to be filed.
Tension had erupted in Beldanga in January following the death of a migrant worker in Jharkhand. The unrest escalated in multiple phases, with incidents of vandalism, rail blockades, highway protests, and attacks on journalists. Police had to resort to baton charge to bring the situation under control.
Following the violence, state police launched an investigation and arrested several accused using CCTV footage. Later, on the orders of the High Court, the case was transferred to the NIA. The central agency subsequently alleged that state police had not handed over relevant case documents, while the state government maintained that substantial action had already been taken.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
