Mamata Banerjee Accuses AIMIM and ISF of Masterminding Malda Judicial Gherao

Key Takeaways

• Mamata Banerjee blames AIMIM and ISF for the Malda gherao of judicial officers during the West Bengal Assembly polls.
• CID has arrested the main accused, advocate Mofakkarul Islam, while CM claims police are under her control, not the Election Commission.
• Banerjee alleges BJP and Congress provided instigation and claims money is being smuggled in via CRPF vehicles for the elections.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, April 3, 2026, directly blamed the AIMIM and ISF for the gherao of judicial officers in the Malda district. During an election rally in Harirampur, she accused the Congress and BJP of instigating the violence while the state conducts the West Bengal Assembly polls.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, April 1, in Mothabari involved a gherao that lasted for several hours. The state's CID has since arrested the main accused, advocate Mofakkarul Islam, at Bagdogra airport. In her speech, Banerjee asserted that the CID remains under her control, explicitly rejecting claims that it is under the Election Commission's jurisdiction.

She alleged that the BJP had "loaned" the accused from the AIMIM to bring him to the scene. "The BJP loaned him (the accused) from the AIMIM and brought him here," she stated, adding that the ISF is also involved. She further claimed that these parties engineered the violence in Mothabari, stating, "ISF is with them; Congress and BJP have also provided instigation."

Beyond the gherao, Banerjee questioned the electoral process, specifically asking why the Assembly polls cannot proceed with the same voter lists used in the 2024 general elections. She challenged the legitimacy of the voter list, stating, "If the voter list contained names of infiltrators, Mr. Modi also won with their votes earlier, so he should resign first." This rhetoric highlights the ongoing tension regarding voter eligibility and electoral integrity in the state.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister made grave allegations regarding the funding and logistics of the election campaign. She accused opponents of bringing money into the state using CRPF vehicles. "Money is being brought in using CRPF vehicles," she alleged, insisting she has a record of these movements and plans to expose them at the appropriate time.

Political Implications and Future Outlook

The confrontation has intensified as Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated he will camp in West Bengal during the elections. Banerjee addressed this presence directly, asserting that his visit will lead to a reduction in the BJP's vote share. This clash between the ruling state government and the central leadership underscores the high stakes of the current electoral battle.

The arrest of Mofakkarul Islam is a pivotal development in the Malda gherao case. By securing the arrest of a key figure attempting to flee via Bagdogra airport, the state police have taken a decisive step in the investigation. However, the Chief Minister's defense of the CID's operational autonomy remains a point of contention with the central administration.

The narrative surrounding the Malda gherao has shifted from a local law and order incident to a major political flashpoint. Banerjee's detailed account of the involvement of external actors like AIMIM and ISF, along with the specific accusation of BJP instigation, frames the event as part of a larger strategy to disrupt the polls. Her claim that she possesses records of illicit money movements using CRPF vehicles suggests that the investigation may extend beyond the immediate gherao to include financial irregularities.

The election commission's position on voter lists remains a critical unresolved issue. The Chief Minister's demand to use the 2024 rolls, coupled with her dismissal of any "infiltrator" claims by challenging the previous results, creates a complex backdrop for the voting process. The implication is that the current voter rolls are politically contested, which could influence voter turnout and the credibility of the election outcome.

As the West Bengal Assembly polls progress, the atmosphere remains charged. The presence of high-profile figures like Amit Shah, contrasted with Banerjee's accusations of his visit being counter-productive for the BJP, signals a fierce battle for public sentiment. The state government's resolve to expose what it terms as illegal financial movements and its insistence on controlling the CID indicates a prolonged period of political maneuvering and confrontation.

Mamata Banerjee Warns of Vote Share Reduction

The Chief Minister's prediction that Amit Shah's camp in West Bengal will reduce the BJP's vote share suggests a strategic political calculation intended to demoralize opposition supporters. Given the intense accusations regarding money laundering and the gherao, the political environment is likely to remain volatile. The state's insistence on controlling the investigation and the central government's deployment of top leadership points toward a continued power struggle that will significantly impact the final electoral dynamics and the perceived legitimacy of the outcome.