West Bengal Minister Tapas Roy on Thursday supported the action taken by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Saokat Molla, stating that anyone associated with a case is required to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the agency if summoned.
“Wherever there is a case, wherever someone is involved, that person will inevitably be issued summons and will have to appear,” Roy told ANI.
The development comes after a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches and interrogations at the residence of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Saokat Molla in South Bamunia district of Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
This action is related to the investigation into a bomb blast that occurred a few days before the West Bengal Assembly elections, resulting in the death of one person.
The case was handed over to the NIA after demands for a central investigation into the incident. Since taking over the investigation, the agency has arrested several individuals, including TMC leader Wahid al-Islam, in connection with the case.
As part of the ongoing investigation, a special NIA team arrived at Al-Mawla’s residence on Thursday to conduct searches and gather information related to the incident.
Amid the agency’s operations, Mullah’s wife and daughter were seen arriving home.
Earlier, on April 27, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took up a case related to the recovery of raw bombs in West Bengal and began its investigation, keeping in mind the terrorism angle.
The counter-terrorism agency registered a new First Information Report (RC-25/2026/NIA/DLI) early on Monday, a day after receiving an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“Pursuant to the MHA order, the NIA took charge and registered a case related to recovery of raw bombs in West Bengal. The case relates to the recovery of 79 raw bombs and other incriminating material by Kolkata Police, which were stored somewhere on April 25, endangering human lives and property. The NIA registered the case on April 26,” the NIA said on Monday.
The case (FIR No. 62/2026) dated April 25 was initially registered at Uttar Kashipur police station of Bhangar division in Kolkata. The FIR was lodged under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023 and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, after providing reliable inputs about the storage of raw bombs and materials used in their preparation.
Based on this information, the state police recovered 79 round-shaped pieces suspected to be improvised bombs, tied with jute ropes, along with other incriminating materials. Unidentified persons allegedly stored these explosives inside an abandoned house near a graveyard in Magirhat village (Boilipara) under Uttar Kashipur police station in South 24 Parganas district.
