Supreme Court Criticizes West Bengal Government Over Malda Incident The Supreme Court on April 6, 2026, sharply criticized the West Bengal government for its handling of a violent incident in Malda, where judicial officers faced harassment and threats. During a hearing, the court directly questioned the chief secretary, asking, "Why aren’t you answering the phone?" The court’s intervention followed allegations of systemic negligence and failure to protect judicial personnel. The incident in Malda involved multiple cases of intimidation and physical assaults on judges and legal officials. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), 11 FIRs have been registered so far, with three specifically linked to threats and attacks on judicial officers. One FIR pertains to a female judge who was allegedly prevented from attending a court event, while another involves a male judicial officer who was reportedly threatened. A third FIR details the harassment of a female administrative officer. Additionally, nine other FIRs were filed for alleged roadblocks and local police negligence, bringing the total to 11 cases under investigation. The NIA revealed that 24 individuals have been arrested in connection with the incidents, and 309 suspects have been identified. The agency has requested the analysis of call detail records (CDRs) for 432 individuals to trace potential links to the violence. The court mandated that the state police immediately transfer all case files and records to the NIA, which has been granted authority to investigate all 12 cases. The Supreme Court emphasized that the attacks on judicial officers were "extremely grave" and ordered the state government to ensure the safety of legal personnel.#chief_secretary #west_bengal_government #supreme_court #national_investigation_agency #malda_incident
