Kolkata, April 20 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court seeking to set aside the bail granted to 15 accused in the Beldanga riots case, after a lower court rejected its plea for an extension of time to file the chargesheet.
The central probe agency, which is investigating the violence under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), argued that the 90-day period had lapsed without completing the investigation.
The division bench comprising Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray is set to hear the matter.
The clashes erupted in Beldanga on January 16 following the return of the body of a migrant worker who died in Jharkhand. The incident triggered widespread tension, leading to rioting and a six-hour blockade of the national highway.
NIA had sought an additional 90 days to file the chargesheet, citing the complexity of the case involving UAPA offences, but the trial court turned down the request and granted bail to the accused.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.