Kolkata: An NIA court on Saturday granted bail to 15 people arrested in connection with the Beldanga violence in Murshidabad in Jan, after the agency failed to submit its charge sheet within the mandatory 90-day period. The court granted relief against a personal bond of Rs 10,000 each.The accused were among 35 people apprehended following unrest in Jan sparked by a migrant worker’s death in Jharkhand. The violence involved vandalism, railway blockades, and attacks on media personnel. While state police initially led the probe, the investigation was later transferred to the NIA following a Calcutta High Court order.Court sources indicated the NIA failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the investigation’s status or the specific roles of the detainees. Under law, agencies must file a charge sheet within a stipulated time frame to justify continued custody; otherwise, the accused are entitled to statutory bail.The judge prohibited the 15 individuals from leaving the Kolkata municipal area and ordered law enforcement to monitor their movements. They must also attend every scheduled hearing. The remaining 20 accused remain in custody.
