Politics
05 Jun, 2026
NIA arrests ex-TMC MLA Saokat Molla in Bhangar blast case
Business To Business, Kolkata, 5th June, 2026: Saokat Molla was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on Friday night in connection with the Bhangar blast case in West Bengal.
Arrest details
According to NIA officials:
- Molla was arrested from South 24 Parganas district.
- The arrest came just hours after the agency declared him an "absconding" accused in the case.
- He is expected to be produced before a court, where the agency will seek further legal action as part of its investigation.
An NIA official said:
"We have arrested Saokat Molla as part of the ongoing investigation into the Bhangar bomb blast case."
The Bhangar blast
The case relates to a crude bomb explosion that occurred on
March 19 at
Dakshin Bamunia village in South 24 Parganas.
According to investigators:
- One person was killed in the blast.
- Three others sustained critical injuries.
- The explosion allegedly occurred while crude bombs were being manufactured at the site.
Investigation
The NIA has been probing the incident to determine:
- The circumstances surrounding the bomb-making operation.
- The identities and roles of those involved.
- Whether a larger criminal or organized network was connected to the blast.
Molla's arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, as the agency had identified him as a key suspect in the case.
Political significance
The arrest of a former legislator from the All India Trinamool Congress is likely to attract political attention in West Bengal, where law-and-order issues and the alleged use of crude bombs in local political conflicts have often been subjects of intense debate.
The NIA is expected to continue its investigation and may seek custodial interrogation as it examines the circumstances leading to the deadly explosion.