SC sets two-month deadline for NIA probe into ‘gherao’ of judicial officers

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to complete its probe into the April 1 violence in West Bengal's Malda district—in which a mob confined seven judicial officers for nine hours—within two months.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the NIA should file its report before the court of competent jurisdiction after completing the investigation. 

During the hearing, the bench asked Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, "What is the position of the investigation? Is it complete?"

He said he would file a detailed status report. "We are, however, of the view that let the NIA complete the investigation at the earliest, preferably within a period of two months...," the bench said. 

Last month, the bench permitted the NIA to file its charge sheet upon completion of the investigation in the case.

The court had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court detailing the harrowing events of the night of April 1, when seven judicial officers, including three women, and a five-year-old child were held captive by a mob for over nine hours without food or water.