Kolkata: A First Information Report has been registered against Trinamool Congress chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata over allegations of inciting communal passions during a political event. The local police have initiated a formal probe into the matter following a written complaint accusing her of delivering a provocative speech.
The legal trouble for the veteran leader began after a resident named Tushar Kanti Das filed a complaint with the South Kolkata Police on May 20. According to the complainant, Banerjee delivered a speech at a public rally that had the potential to trigger fear, misunderstandings, and communal tension among various communities across West Bengal. The complaint further highlights that the speech threatened to disrupt social harmony and breach public peace.
In his complaint, Das stated that while Banerjee was cautioning voters against the misleading propaganda of the Bharatiya Janata Party, she made certain controversial remarks. She allegedly hinted that if voting patterns in the state shifted, a particular community could face severe and adverse consequences. The complaint notes that the statement was highly ambiguous, leaving room for interpretations that could create an atmosphere of insecurity and apprehension among citizens.
This legal development comes at a highly challenging juncture for the Trinamool Congress leadership. The political party has recently faced internal fractures, and Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, is already under the scanner of the Criminal Investigation Department. The registration of this case directly against the top leader adds a significant layer of legal and political pressure on the political outfit.