Titas Mukherjee
An FIR has been lodged against former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee over allegations that certain remarks attributed to her hurt religious sentiments and had the potential to disturb communal harmony. The case was registered at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station following a complaint filed by advocate Rinki Chattopadhyay Singh, who accused Mamata Banerjee of making controversial statements relating to Sanatan Dharma during separate public appearances. Police officials confirmed that an investigation into the allegations is currently underway.
“We have received the complaint, and a case has been registered as per procedure. The matter is under investigation, and all aspects mentioned in the FIR are being examined,” a senior officer of the Siliguri Police Commissionerate told PTI. According to the complainant, the FIR pertains to two alleged statements made by Mamata Banerjee, one during a religious gathering in 2025 and another at a protest meeting in Dharmatala ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The complaint alleges that the remarks deeply offended the beliefs and sentiments of “millions of Sanatani Hindus across India and the world” and had the potential to fuel communal discord.
One of the allegations centres around a statement reportedly made during an Eid gathering in Kolkata last year, where Banerjee was accused of using the phrase “ganda dharma” in reference to Hinduism, an allegation that has now triggered fresh political controversy in the state. The complainant further alleged that another remark attributed to Banerjee suggested that a particular community could “finish off” others within minutes if it chose to do so. According to the FIR, such comments were “provocative”, unconstitutional and capable of creating fear and tension among communities. “Such comments are not expected from a person holding a constitutional position,” the complaint reportedly stated.
Advocate Rinki Chattopadhyay Singh claimed that police initially declined to register her complaint and that the FIR was only accepted after repeated follow-ups. “When she was the Chief Minister, she attended Eid prayers at Red Road, wearing a hijab, and later made remarks about Hinduism as a ‘dirty religion’. When I went to file an FIR at the cyber branch, it was not accepted. I faced physical and mental harassment, and my complaint was delayed for days without being registered,” Singh alleged.
She further claimed that remarks allegedly made during the Assembly election campaign heightened concerns for her personal safety. “Later, before the 2026 Assembly elections, further statements were made at Dharmatala, threatening Hindu voters. I felt personally at risk, both as a Hindu and as an activist, and feared attacks,” she said. The advocate maintained that while freedom of expression is protected, it must operate within constitutional limits. “I believe freedom of speech has boundaries,” she added.
Based on the complaint, police registered the FIR under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to criminal intimidation, intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace, circulation of statements allegedly capable of generating hostility, criminal defamation, and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious sentiments. Among the invoked provisions are Sections 299, 351, 352, 353, 354, and 356 of the BNS. A senior officer of the Siliguri Police Commissionerate confirmed that preliminary procedural steps had been completed and that the matter was now under investigation. Officials said further action would depend on the findings of the inquiry.
