New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI or NIA probe into the alleged illegal detention of seven judicial officers, including three women, in West Bengal.
The incident occurred on Thursday when the officials were participating in an SIR exercise and were allegedly held hostage for several hours by a mob inside a BDO office in the Kaliachak area of Malda district.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed that the investigating agency, to be appointed by the Election Commission, submit a preliminary report by the next date of hearing.
The court termed the incident a serious attempt to intimidate judicial officers and undermine the authority of the judiciary.
“This is not a minor incident but appears to be a deliberate attempt to demoralise judicial officers and disrupt ongoing legal processes,” the bench observed.
Expressing strong concern over the conduct of state authorities, the court said it would not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands or subject judicial officers to intimidation.
The Supreme Court also issued show-cause notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the District Magistrate and SSP of Malda, asking them to explain the failure to ensure the officers’ safety despite prior information.
All officials have been directed to appear virtually before the court on April 6 at 4 pm.
