The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested former TMC MLA Saokat Molla for his alleged involvement in the Bhangar crude bomb blast case. The former MLA, the prime suspect in the case, was finally apprehended in the night between June 5 and 6.
Today, Molla was taken for a medical examination before being produced at the court.
Salt Lake, West Bengal: TMC MLA Saokat Molla is taken by NIA officials to the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital for a medical examination before being produced in court pic.twitter.com/JtPxualstt
— IANS (@ians_india) June 6, 2026
Molla, the ex-MLA from Canning Purba, was declared absconding earlier after NIA raids on his residence and hideouts. He was apprehended in the South 24 Parganas area following a sustained manhunt and taken to the NIA office for questioning.
On March 19, 2026, a massive explosion occured at Dakshin Bamunia village in Bhangar, where crude bombs were allegedly being manufactured ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. One person was killed and three others were critically injured in the blast. Investigators allege Molla directed associates to produce the bombs and later instructed them to tamper with evidence at the site. Around 100 crude bombs were reportedly recovered from linked locations.
NIA had taken over the investigation from the state police. On June 4, NIA raided Molla’s residence and other linked locations and did not find him. He was declared as absconding. BSF was also alerted to prevent his possible escape to Bangladesh. Though Molla’s family claims that he surrendered voluntarily, the NIA declined it. He was later arrested from a hideout in the Kamalgazi area in the South 24 Parganas, near Kolkata.
Who is Saokat Molla, and why is he associated with the ‘Machh Chor’ song?
Saokaat Molla was the TMC MLA from Canning Purba seat from 2016 to 2026. He hails from the Sunderbans rural areas and has been involved in the business of fisheries, agriculture and other ventures.
Locals in the area alleged that Molla has been involved in rampant land grabbing and illegal activities in the fisheries sector too. As reported by the ABP Ananda, locals have stated that Molla his son, and other close family members had grabbed an entire lake, filled it up and used the land to construct hotels, cafes, resorts and other business ventures. Locals have stated that the family did rampant land grabbing and developed businesses in their own name.
Shaukat Molla and his son literally stole a lake, man.
— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) June 5, 2026
There used to be a lake.
These people filled it up with land to build massive cafes and resorts.
And the police did nothing.
The level of corruption under Mamata Banerjee was simply unimaginable. pic.twitter.com/9JLsDDAnCH
In the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, a song went viral in the Canning Purba and Bhangar areas. The lyrics of the song went like “Machh Chor Machh Chor, Saokat toh Machh Chor” (fish thief, fish thief, Saokat Molla is a fish thief). It was popularised by ISF supporters who were campaigning for ISF candidate and Molla’s rival Naushad Siddiqui. It mocked Molla for his alleged past activities of earning money by stealing fish. It also referred to the alleged land grabbing and lake grabbing.
ISF workers gathered outside the NIA office in New Town, playing the viral ‘Mach Chor’ song on a DJ system following the arrest of former MLA Saokat Molla in the Bhangar blast case. https://t.co/Sbur5heZzB pic.twitter.com/9tVjbwKDtl
— Piyali Mitra (@Plchakraborty) June 6, 2026
As per some reports, ISF supporters were seen dancing with fish to celebrate his arrest while playing the Machh Chor song on a DJ vehicle.
