The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday withdrew its petitions before the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of trials in cases related to the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal to courts outside the State, citing “changed circumstances”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, sought permission to withdraw the transfer petitions before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.

The CBI had sought the transfer of the trials on grounds including apprehensions of witness intimidation and concerns over a fair trial. It had also relied on a report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which recommended that trials in all cases investigated by the CBI be conducted outside West Bengal.

The petitions arose from allegations of violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. In the next 2026 Assembly Elections, the BJP defeated the Trinamool Congress ending the party’s 15-year rule in the State and forming its first government there.