Calcutta HC Bars Arrest of NIA Officials Until Next Hearing

BY A STAFF REPORTER: In a blow to the West Bengal Police, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday barred the Bengal cops from arresting National Investigation Agency's officials until further hearing.

The Calcutta High Court also demanded a progress report of the investigation from the government. As per the orders, the West Bengal police can only interrogate NIA officials through video conferencing. 

The National Investigation Agency submitted a plea challenging West Bengal's FIR on April 9, Wednesday. Moreover, the West Bengal Police on Sunday filed an FIR against the NIA  team accusing them of molesting and trespassing houses during search operations. 

Sleuths of NIA faced violent protests and suffered injuries while conducting search operations in connection with a December 2022 bomb blast case in Bhupatinagar, Purba Medinipur. The NIA team arrested two key conspirators, Balai Charan Maity and Manobrata Jana during the raids.