The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Congress leader and Mothabari Assembly candidate Sayem Chowdhury, also known as Babu Chowdhury, in connection with the alleged gherao of judicial officers and attacks on their vehicles in Malda ahead of the Assembly elections.
Chowdhury was taken into custody following a marathon interrogation session at the NIA’s Kolkata office. The central agency has alleged that he played a key role in instigating violence against judicial officers engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list duties and in orchestrating the gherao of the BDO office in Mothabari.
According to NIA sources, investigators have obtained video footage purportedly showing Chowdhury making provocative remarks and inciting individuals against the judicial officers and the SIR process. Officials claim he was directly involved in mobilising the crowd that surrounded the BDO office and later carried out attacks and vandalism on the vehicles of judges as they were returning from duty at night.
Probe taken over by NIA
The NIA had taken over the investigation in April, citing the sensitivity of the case. So far, 72 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, and a chargesheet has been filed against 31 accused.
Initially, the state police had arrested Shahjahan Ali Qadri, an ISF candidate from Mothabari. After assuming control of the probe, the NIA took custody of Qadri and subsequently filed a chargesheet against him. The agency also arrested Golam Rabbani, a local ISF leader, for his alleged involvement.
Build-up to the arrest
Sources said Chowdhury was first questioned at Kaliachak police station in Malda soon after the NIA took over the case but was not arrested at that time due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Following a detailed examination of digital records and other materials, investigators claim to have gathered substantial proof against him. He was then summoned to the NIA office in New Town, Kolkata, where he was interrogated extensively. Officials said multiple inconsistencies in his statements ultimately led to his arrest.
The probe remains ongoing as the NIA continues to investigate the larger conspiracy behind the incident and the involvement of other individuals.