The Supreme Court on Monday (April 13, 2026) asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to look into the political background of people involved in the gheraoing of seven judicial officers deployed for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work in Malda district of West Bengal on April 1.

“We would like to know if these persons have any political background… This is not an academic exercise. We intend to take this into its logical conclusion,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, heading the Bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, addressed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the NIA.

The court further ordered that the security arrangements for judicial officers in the State would continue.

Earlier in the month, the apex court had directed the NIA to take over the investigation by plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

The Chief Justice had expressed a suspicion that the incident was not an emotional outburst, but a “well-planned, calculated and deeply-instigated” move.

In an April 2 hearing, the apex court viewed the gheraoing of judicial officers for over seven hours at a government office in Malda, reportedly after several voters were struck off the electoral roll, as not only a “brazen attempt” to browbeat them but a challenge to the authority of the court itself.

Hundreds of judicial officers had been deployed on the basis of a Supreme Court order to function as Election Registration Officers, and adjudicate objections raised by voters excluded from the electoral roll during the SIR ahead of the Assembly election in the State.

The court had at the time asked what the political leaders were doing during all those hours of captivity without making any attempt to defuse the situation.

“This was not a routine incident. It was ex facie a calculated, well-planned and deliberate move to demoralise the judicial officers and impact the ongoing process of adjudication of objections. We will not allow anyone to interfere and take law into their hands by causing fear in the minds of judicial officers. This undoubtedly amounts to criminal contempt,” the Chief Justice had observed.