SILIGURI: A First Information Report (FIR) has been formally registered against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chairperson and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Siliguri Cyber Police Station. The legal action stems from allegations that she made derogatory comments targeted at religious beliefs during a public gathering.
The criminal complaint, filed by advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh on Tuesday, accuses the political leader of delivering speeches that wound the religious sentiments of millions and risk inciting communal polarization.
Core Allegations and Political Context
The legal filing targets two separate public addresses delivered by the TMC leader, drawing sharp criticism from political opponents:
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The 2025 Eid Address: The primary grievance focuses on a speech delivered last year during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations at Red Road in Kolkata. The complainant alleges that Banerjee used the phrase “ganda dharma” (dirty religion), which the filing claims was directed at Sanatan Dharma.
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2026 Election Campaign Rhetoric: The complaint further cites provocative statements allegedly made during the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election trail. It asserts that Banerjee used colloquial threats to warn of severe consequences (“12 ta beje jabe”) along communal lines, which the petitioner argues was an attempt to influence voters through fear and intimidation.
Statutory Framework and Legal Charges
Following the presentation of the complaint, the Siliguri Cyber Police initiated an investigation and booked the former Chief Minister under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s unified criminal code:
| BNS Section | Offense/Charge Matrix |
| Section 351(1) | Criminal Intimidation |
| Section 352 | Intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace |
| Section 353(2) | Circulation of statements or information intended to promote hatred or enmity between different religious groups |
Opposition Reaction and Political Backlash
The legal dispute follows a sustained political offensive by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier in March, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari publicly called out the speech on social media, accusing the TMC supremo of using religious platforms for political polarization rather than festive celebration.
Adhikari questioned the specific intent behind the terminology used in the address, claiming that the frequent invocation of conflict-related terms weaponized rhetoric and actively fostered animosity between communities. Local authorities are currently reviewing the electronic evidence and speech transcripts attached to the cyber complaint before deciding on subsequent legal summons.
