Keep Investigative Agencies Free from Political Agendas

Mohammad Shafi, National Acting President of the Social Democratic Party of India, has expressed grave concern over the National Investigation Agency’s operations in the Beldanga violence case in West Bengal. The Supreme Court has sharply questioned the NIA’s decision to invoke Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act without reviewing essential state police documents, terming it a pre-decisional conclusion. The Court highlighted that every emotional outburst cannot be packaged as a threat to economic security, underscoring the need for fairness in applying stringent anti-terror provisions to what appears to be a protest sparked by the tragic death of a migrant worker.

This incident is not isolated but part of a disturbing pattern of overreach by the NIA, especially in opposition-ruled states. Allegations persist that the agency selectively targets cases for political reasons, relying on broad UAPA definitions that result in prolonged detentions despite low conviction rates. Notable examples include the Bhima Koregaon case, where intellectuals faced arrests based on questionable evidence, and the Delhi riots prosecutions that criminalised peaceful dissent, as well as similar probes in Kerala and West Bengal that have fuelled accusations of a nexus with the ruling dispensation at the Centre.

Such practices have deep political implications, straining federal relations and weaponising national security laws against legitimate grievances. They create a chilling effect on public expression and undermine public trust in investigative agencies. The Social Democratic Party of India calls for immediate reforms to ensure evidence-based investigations and to protect democratic rights from the misuse of power.