Overview
- Declining to halt the probe, the Supreme Court directed the NIA to justify in a sealed filing whether prima facie material supports invoking Section 15 of the UAPA.
- The bench transferred West Bengal’s challenge to the Centre’s order for an NIA investigation to a division bench of the Calcutta High Court for independent reassessment.
- Questioning the agency’s approach, the court said the NIA appeared to reach a pre-decisional conclusion and cautioned that every emotional outburst is not a threat to economic security.
- The Centre cited the area’s porous border with Bangladesh, alleged use of deadly weapons and petroleum, and non-cooperation by state police, while the state argued no scheduled offence was made out and arrests had already been made.
- In a parallel development, a special NIA court remanded 36 accused in the Beldanga violence to judicial custody until February 19 after difficulties producing them in person.