"Police officers being called by NIA": West Bengal moves Supreme Court against Calcutta HC order for probe into Ram Navami violence

The West Bengal government has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Calcutta High Court order which directed a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into violence that broke out during Ram Navami processions in several areas of the State in March (State of West Bengal v. Suvendu Adhikari).A Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala observed that the NIA can investigate when there are scheduled offences involved. However, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, contended that there was no scheduled offence here and that explosives used in the cases do not fall under the Explosives Act. .Singhvi also contended that West Bengal Police officers were being called for questioning by the NIA.The matter will now be heard tomorrow..The High Court had passed the order in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who alleged that several bombs were used in the violence, leaving many injured, including police personnel..A Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam had ordered: “The writ petitions are disposed of by directing the concerned police to ensure that all FIRs, documents, materials, CCTV footage, etc be immediately handed over to the authority of the NIA, who on receipt of all the entire materials shall commence investigation and proceed in accordance with the law.”.During a detailed hearing that took place on April 10, the Bench had opined that the violence that broke out in Howrah and Dalkhola districts were prima facie "pre-planned.""Internet suspension usually takes place when there has been an external danger or infiltration etc. But for a religious procession, we don't understand why (internet was suspended). Sudden violence is when people are walking and there is an altercation etc. But your (State's) reports prima facie show these (violence) were all pre-planned. There are allegations of stones being hurled from rooftops. Obviously it is not possible for anyone to take stones up to the rooftop within 10 to 15 minutes," the ACJ had then observed. .Besides the main petition, the High Court also heard a plea filed by Advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, who had contested against Mamata Banerjee during the previous assembly polls on a BJP ticket. Tibrewak sought action against the Chief Minister for allegedly instigating the violence by asking Hindus to "protect Muslims during their holy month of Ramzan." She also alleged that Banerjee had divided West Bengal into a Hindu-Muslim State and had even sought orders to prevent her from making any public statement during festivals.

"Police officers being called by NIA": West Bengal moves Supreme Court against Calcutta HC order for probe into Ram Navami violence

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