Speaking on April 2, Amin pointed out that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier criticised the seven-phase election schedule and was now opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He described the SIR as a legal process backed by the Supreme Court, designed solely to “purify” the voter list.

“I just heard about the situation in Malda, these have always been the criminal states… Earlier, Mamata Banerjee was criticising why we have the seven rounds of the elections… This time during the SIR, their state leaders and their TMC leaders are against that. SIR is the legal process, and this is endorsed by the Supreme Court of India for the election process… SIR is very clear-cut and purifying for the voter list… What happened in Malda is a very shameful matter; we condemn these things. The Supreme Court has already condemned this,” Amin said.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on April 2 handed over the investigation of the Malda district incident to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), where seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage by villagers on April 1. Following a Supreme Court order, the NIA team is expected to arrive in West Bengal on April 3.

In a letter issued on April 2, the Election Commission of India referenced the Supreme Court order and directed the NIA to investigate the incident. The NIA has been instructed to submit a preliminary inquiry report directly to the Supreme Court. The case is scheduled for the next hearing on April 6, 2026, with the concerned officials appearing virtually.

The Supreme Court characterised the hostage incident as a brazen and deliberate obstruction of justice. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed concern that despite prior notice, State authorities failed to provide prompt protection, leaving the officers without food or water for hours.

The court issued show-cause notices to senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director-General of Police, calling on them to explain their inaction. It directed the Election Commission to requisition and deploy adequate central forces to ensure the safety of judicial officers and the smooth conduct of the SIR adjudication process.

The bench also mandated strict security measures at all venues, restricted public entry, ordered an immediate assessment of threat perceptions towards officers and their families, and required compliance reports. Senior officials were instructed to be present virtually at the next hearing.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the Malda incident as “shocking” and alleged a breakdown of law and order. BJP spokesperson Raja Majumdar questioned whether provocation by the Trinamool Congress led to the situation and urged the Election Commission of India to investigate whether those removed from voter lists were citizens.

The standoff was triggered by mass deletions from electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process. The incident formed part of wider protests that paralysed Malda throughout April 1, with demonstrators blocking roads across national and state highways and key rural routes in at least five Assembly constituencies.

The allegations arise amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal ahead of the state Assembly elections. Voting will occur across two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting set for May 4.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, held in eight phases, the Trinamool Congress won a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP increased its tally to 77. Congress and the Left Front failed to win any seats in that election.