Supreme Court rejects Bengal government's plea to revoke NIA probe in Ram Navami violence cases

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed the West Bengal government's plea to overturn the Calcutta High Court's order for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the Ram Navami violence cases.

The apex court declined to entertain Bengal's challenge against transferring the cases to the anti-terror agency and upheld the high court's decision. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra announced the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition (SLP), stating, "We are not inclined to entertain" it, reported PTI.

The Calcutta High Court issued the order in April 2023 following a request from Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who sought an NIA investigation into the violence incidents. In addition to handing over the cases to the NIA, the high court directed the state police to transfer all relevant records and CCTV footage to the central government for the agency's examination.

The Bengal government contested the high court's decision, arguing that no explosives were used in the violence. They asserted that the direction to transfer the cases to NIA was based on a "politically-motivated" petition filed by Adhikari.

During the Ram Navami celebrations in March 2023, clashes erupted between two groups in Howrah's Shibpur, resulting in several vehicles being set on fire, shops being ransacked, and stones being thrown. The violence extended to Rishra in Hooghly district and Dalkhola in Uttar Dinajpur district.

Despite the state government's objection, the Supreme Court's verdict has upheld the NIA's role in the investigation.