Recently,  the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation into the reported homicide of BJP worker Bijay Krishna Bhuniya in East Midnapore last year to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Justice Jay Sengupta instructed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to assume control of the investigation within 15 days. He expressed disappointment that despite repeated appeals by the central government panel lawyers, the Union Home Ministry did not show adequate initiative to take over the investigation.

Additionally, the judge specified that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) must provide a compliance report to the court by April 24.

Additional solicitor general Ashok Chakrabarty denied that the court had criticised the Union home ministry. He said: "There were some procedural lacunae on the part of state government and that was why the NIA could not interfere in the matter. After hearing me, the court issued an NIA probe order. Nothing else had happened."

Bhuniya, a 60-year-old BJP booth president from Moina in East Midnapore, was reportedly abducted from near his home and subsequently murdered in May of last year, allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers. His body was discovered near a pond close to his residence the following day. According to Bhuniya's family, Trinamool supporters had thrown bombs and forcibly taken him away.

Lawyers representing the BJP and the central government had requested an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the incident. Meanwhile, the Bhuniya family approached the high court, advocating for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Lawyers representing BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is from East Midnapore, argued in court that Bhuniya's body had not been released to the family. They demanded a second autopsy, echoing the request made by the Bhuniya family.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the high court had issued an order directing the state government to transport the body to Command Hospital in Calcutta. At this facility, a medical team would perform the second autopsy, with the entire procedure being recorded on video. Additionally, Justice Mantha instructed the state to expedite the investigation and permit the family to view the body without delay.

Justice Mantha directed the state to add a bunch of “specific allegations” to the FIR against the accused persons. The FIR was lodged suo motu by the police.

Appearing for the state, then advocate-general Soumendra Nath Mookherjee said the victim had died from a gunshot injury.

During the hearing on Friday, the lawyers representing the petitioners alleged that the state police had failed to conclude the investigation within the stipulated timeframe. Furthermore, they claimed that the police had assisted an arrested individual in obtaining bail.

Justice Sengupta then ordered the transfer of the probe from the police to the NIA.