The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Sayem Chowdhary, also known as Babu Chowdhary, a local political leader from Malda’s Mothabari area, in connection with a case involving mob blockades, violence, and the alleged detention of judicial officers during protests linked to the pre-election Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal. Chowdhary was taken into custody by an NIA team after being questioned at the agency’s Kolkata office. He had recently contested the West Bengal Assembly election as a Congress candidate from the Mothabari constituency in Malda.

According to the NIA, Chowdhary was among the key accused in the April 1, 2026 incident at the BDO Office Block-II, where judicial officers were allegedly detained by a mob. The agency claimed that he was involved in disrupting law and order and was part of a group that attacked police personnel performing official duties, leaving nine officers injured.

The probe agency alleged that Chowdhary had addressed a gathering outside the BDO office a day before the incident, allegedly encouraging people to take part in violent protests. The NIA claimed he conspired with other accused individuals and actively participated in unlawful assemblies that involved violence, threats, and obstruction during the SIR-related activities.

With this arrest, the NIA has so far detained 30 accused in the case. The agency is investigating multiple cases related to protests, violence, and the alleged illegal confinement of judicial officers during the electoral roll revision process in Malda ahead of the Assembly elections. The investigation began following directions from the Supreme Court, which had taken suo motu notice of the violence reported in Malda in April. The NIA said it is continuing efforts to identify and trace other individuals allegedly involved in the wider conspiracy behind the pre-poll unrest.

The agency arrested two more accused — Maulana Imran Ali and Rinku SK — in separate cases involving the alleged detention of judicial officers, highway blockades, attacks on police personnel, and disruption of public order during the SIR exercise. The NIA has registered 12 cases related to the Malda violence and protests and has already filed chargesheets in four of them. A total of 35 accused are currently in judicial custody, while investigations remain ongoing across all cases.

The agency said its earlier searches led to the arrest of Imran and Rinku, who were allegedly involved in violent gatherings during the protests. The NIA claimed they were part of mobs that attacked police personnel deployed for maintaining law and order, including an incident where a police bus driver suffered serious injuries after being hit by a stone during the violence.