SC declines to intervene in Calcutta High Court order for NIA probe into Beldanga violence

The Supreme Court on Monday (March 16, 2026) declined to intervene in a Calcutta High Court decision refusing to stay a National Investigating Agency (NIA) probe into violence that broke out in Murshidabad district’s Beldanga in West Bengal in January.

The High Court had, on February 27, confirmed a trial court order to hand over the case diary to the NIA, and directed the Central agency to file a status report on March 24.

Appearing before a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, for West Bengal, challenged the High Court direction to the State to hand over the case records to the NIA.

Mr. Banerjee asked whether the High Court could have confirmed the trial court order when the apex court, in a hearing on February 11, had raised doubts about invoking the the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which is the basis for an NIA investigation, in the case.

On February 11, the apex court had questioned the invocation of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case without even looking at any material or evidence. The top court had expressed doubts whether an “emotional outburst” could be termed as a “terrorist act” affecting the economic security of the nation.

Violence had erupted in Beldanga on January 16 following the death of a migrant worker hailing from the area in the neighbouring State of Jharkhand. Large numbers of people took to the streets, blocking railway tracks and a national highway for several hours. At least 12 people were injured in the clashes, and around 30 were arrested for inciting violence.

However, the Bench, on Monday, found the High Court’s confirmation of the NIA probe into the case “quite balanced”.

The Bench said the very purpose of its February 11 intervention was to request the High Court to consider the materials in the case impartially, and take a call on whether or not the case deserved an NIA probe,

“It was for the High Court to decide,” the Bench said.

Earlier, on January 20, the High Court had issued various directions on the basis of petitions filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari and others, including leaving it open to the Central government to conduct investigation by invoking Section 6(5) of the NIA Act.

On January 26, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the NIA to take up the investigation of the case registered by the Beldanga police in Murshidabad district under the various statutes, including the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, the National Highways Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

The West Bengal government had argued that there was no material to attract Section 15 of the UAPA in the case. They had submitted that none of the scheduled offences under the UAPA had been committed in the case.