STATE OF WEST BENGAL Vs. SUVENDU ADHIKARI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Six first information reports were registered by the Police in the State of West Bengal. Details of these first information reports have been tabulated in a statement which has been furnished by the State of West Bengal : <IMG>JUDGEMENT_60_LAWS(SC)7_2023_1.jpg</IMG>

(2.) Acting on a Public Interest Litigation, a Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta by its order dtd. 27/4/2023 held that the allegations implicate offences punishable under the Explosive Substances Act. Hence, the High Court held that this is a fit case where the entire investigation should be transferred to the National Investigation Agency with a direction to the Central Government to exercise their power under Sec. 6(5) of the National Investigating Agency Act 2008.

(3.) The proceedings were thus disposed of by the High Court by directing the State police to ensure that all the FIRs, documents, material seized and CCTV footage, among other things, should be immediately handed over to the NIA which shall commence investigation and proceed in accordance with law. The police authorities of the State of West Bengal were directed to hand over all material to the NIA within two weeks.