NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld an order of the Calcutta high court directing NIA probe into 6 FIRs relating to violence during the Ram Navmi processions in West Bengal.

Violence had broken out in Howrah and Dalkhola districts and other parts of West Bengal during Ram Navami celebrations. It was alleged that the state police did not record bomb attacks on the procession under the Explosive Substances Act.
On April 27, the Calcutta high court had ordered a probe by the NIA into the incidents of violence. The order was passed on a PIL by leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari and three other petitions seeking an NIA probe into the violence at these two places. The high court had directed the state police to ensure all FIRs, documents, material seized and CCTV footage were handed over to the NIA within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

The West Bengal government had assailed the high court order saying no explosives were used and the direction was passed on a “politically-motivated” PIL filed by the leader of the opposition in the state assembly. It had approached approached the apex court against the HC order.
On May 19, the apex court had refused to stay the high court order handing over the investigation to the NIA, following which the anti-terror agency had filed cases.