Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has been booked in a fresh FIR linked to remarks made during a March election rally, marking the second criminal case against her in recent weeks and intensifying scrutiny of her campaign speeches.
The FIR arises from a speech delivered on March 9 at a party programme held at the Metro Channel in Kolkata’s Esplanade area during the Assembly election campaign. The complaint said that the statements made during the rally were capable of promoting enmity between communities, disturbing communal harmony and affecting democratic norms.
Police officials confirmed that the complaint was initially registered as a zero FIR at Netaji Nagar Police Station and later transferred to Hare Street Police Station, as the location of the speech falls within its jurisdiction. The matter is now under investigation, with authorities examining the allegations and supporting material.
A Kolkata Police officer said, “We will take appropriate action after scrutiny of the allegations and relevant materials,” adding that due process had been followed in registering and transferring the complaint.
Allegations of Communal Discord
The complaint was filed by Tushar Kanti Das, a businessman and resident of Netaji Nagar, who complained that Banerjee’s remarks had the potential to disturb public tranquillity and create communal discord.
He stated in his complaint that Banerjee had cautioned people against what she described as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “misleading publicity”, but did not clearly specify what misinformation she was referring to.
The complainant further alleged that the speech suggested one community could face harm in the absence of Banerjee and her party, a statement he claimed had the potential to inflame tensions.
“She was the chief minister at that time. Holding such a post, she was saying that one community would eradicate another had she and her party not been there. This type of statement is enough to cause a riot,” Das said.
He also maintained that he was not affiliated with any political party and had filed the complaint in public interest.
Police Probe Underway
Investigators have begun examining video footage of the March 9 speech along with other material as part of the ongoing probe.
According to police sources, the FIR includes allegations of promoting enmity between groups, criminal intimidation, and intent to provoke breach of peace. Officials are also assessing whether the remarks impacted public tranquillity, communal harmony, or the democratic framework of the state.
A senior officer at Lalbazar said the complaint alleged that the speech amounted to criminal intimidation intended to provoke unrest and disturb peace.
The FIR has been registered under provisions that, according to the complaint, allow police to initiate action without a warrant if legal conditions are met.
Second FIR in Weeks
The latest case gains added significance as it is the second FIR lodged against the former Chief Minister within a short span of weeks.
Earlier, another FIR was registered by the Siliguri Police Commissionerate following a separate complaint related to her remarks on Indo-Bangladesh relations.
While the speech in question was delivered on March 9, the complaint was filed on May 20, and the FIR was formally registered on June 7 before being transferred to the jurisdictional police station.
With two FIRs now registered in quick succession, the development adds a fresh layer of legal and political scrutiny on the TMC chief, whose campaign rhetoric is increasingly under the scanner as investigations continue.
