beldanga-case-15-get-bail-as-nia-misses-chargesheet-deadline

A special NIA court on Saturday granted bail to 15 accused in the Beldanga unrest case after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated timeframe. Each of the accused was released on a personal bond of Rs 10,000, subject to stringent conditions imposed by the court.

 

The court directed that all individuals must remain within the jurisdiction of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area for the time being and must appear in person during every hearing related to the case.

 

The Beldanga incident dates back to January, when tensions escalated following reports of the death of Alauddin Sheikh, a migrant worker from Murshidabad, in Jharkhand. Protests erupted in the region, which allegedly turned violent, involving rail blockades, vandalism of public property, and attacks on media personnel.

 

While the state police initially began the investigation, the probe was later handed over to the NIA on the directive of the Calcutta High Court. The central agency subsequently arrested 35 individuals in connection with the incident.

 

Under criminal procedure, investigating agencies are required to file a chargesheet within 90 days of arrest. However, the NIA failed to meet this deadline and was reportedly unable to provide satisfactory updates on the progress of the investigation when questioned by the court. This lapse paved the way for the accused to seek statutory bail, which was granted.

 

To address earlier logistical challenges in transporting the accused from Beldanga to Kolkata for court appearances, the court has now instructed the released individuals to reside within Kolkata.

 

Meanwhile, the remaining 20 accused persons continue to be in judicial custody.

 

The case has also been marked by ongoing friction between the NIA and the state administration. The NIA had earlier alleged difficulties in accessing case diaries, while prison authorities cited a shortage of police personnel for transporting the accused to court. Although the agency later confirmed receipt of the case documents, its failure to file the chargesheet has raised fresh concerns over the pace and transparency of the investigation.