In a dramatic political escalation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday distanced herself from the Malda hostage incident, saying she did not know seven judicial officers being held overnight and alleging that her government no longer controls the state administration.

“I don’t know who is responsible… no one informed me. The administration is not in my hands. The Election Commission is controlling law-and-order… they listen to Home Minister Amit Shah. It is ‘super President’s rule’,” Banerjee said, triggering a fresh political storm.

Her remarks come even as the Supreme Court took a strong and unprecedented stand over the Malda Mothabari incident, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage for several hours during voter list revision work. Watch the video below:

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant termed the episode a “shameless attack” on the judiciary and a “planned and motivated act” aimed at undermining the authority of courts and demoralising judicial officers. 

Holding the West Bengal administration accountable, the court described the incident as an “abdication of duty” and questioned why police and officials failed to act swiftly despite being alerted.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to ensure a thorough probe and indicated that the investigation may be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The court also said it would monitor the probe.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday amid protests over alleged large-scale deletions from voter lists under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Anger over missing names snowballed into widespread unrest across Malda.

Protesters blocked key roads across at least five Assembly constituencies, bringing normal life to a halt.

On Thursday, thousands of people again took to the streets, blocking National Highway 12 at Narayanpur and causing massive traffic snarls. Similar protests were reported from Manikchak and English Bazar.

Tensions had peaked a day earlier at the Kaliachak-II BDO office in the Mothabari Assembly segment, where the seven judicial officers were gheraoed and held for hours before being rescued late at night by central forces.

The volatile situation has added a sharp communal edge to the unrest, with the region witnessing heightened sensitivities amid the ongoing voter roll controversy.

The political fallout has been immediate. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh questioned whether free and fair elections could be conducted in such conditions, citing law and order concerns in border areas like Kaliachak.

He alleged rising infiltration and accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of enabling anti-national activities.

Meanwhile, Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging a “deep conspiracy” to manipulate voter rolls through fake Form-6 submissions, claiming attempts to include outsiders in the electoral list.

With Banerjee’s explosive claim of losing administrative control, the Supreme Court’s intervention, and intensifying protests on the ground, the Malda crisis has emerged as a major flashpoint ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.