NIA arrests former TMC MP’s husband in connection to 2023 Ram Navami violence

Over 50 suspects were arrested by State police and, subsequently, by the central agency since it took over investigation charges from the State police on April 27, that year, following a Calcutta High Court direction

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) arrested Trinamool Congress councillor Shakir Ali, who is also the husband of former party MP Aparupa Poddar, in connection with the public violence orchestrated during Ram Navami rallies across the State in March-April, 2023. 

A police officer familiar with the matter said that Mr. Ali, a Councillor of the Rishra municipality, was arrested by the agency from his residence and will subsequently be produced before the court. “The agency is probing the involvement of several individuals in the case. There was also chaos that unfolded in front of Mr. Ali’s house when the agency went to arrest him on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) morning. His wife, a two-time MP from Arambagh, Ms. Poddar, was also seen engaging in a verbal spat with the officials. However, the agency took him in their custody,” said the officer. 

According to the officials, at least six cases have been filed across the State on the 2023 Ram Navami violence, one of which was registered at the Rishra police station and two others in the adjacent Sreerampur police station. 

Large-scale violence on account of Ram Navami processions taken out by various Hindu organisations — leading to communal clashes and destruction of public property, including arson and vandalism at railway properties — were reported from Dalkhola in north Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, Shibpur in Howrah and Rishra in Hooghly.

Over 50 suspects were arrested by State police and, subsequently, by the central agency since it took over investigation charges from the State police on April 27, that year, following a Calcutta High Court direction.

However, the Trinamool Congress called it a ‘selective action’ against the ones who remained loyal to Mamata Banerjee when around 65 MLAs and 20 MPs of the party floated a rebellion soon after its defeat in the State Assembly election in May. 

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said, “Police are not acting against those who are being coerced to join the rebel group of the party. Even if they are arrested, they are being granted bail. Aparupa Poddar has remained a Mamata Banerjee loyalist, and she was trying to rejuvenate the party in her area. That’s why her husband was targeted.”