A fresh legal controversy has erupted in West Bengal's film and political circles, as a complaint has been filed against popular Bengali actors Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee with Kolkata Police. They are accused of inciting post-poll violence through social media posts made after the 2021 state Assembly elections.
Complaint Filed at Gariahat Police Station
According to reports, lawyer Joydeep Sen filed the complaint at Gariahat police station on Thursday. He alleged that social media comments made by both actors on May 2, 2021, the day election results were declared, inflamed tensions across the state. Parambrata Chatterjee allegedly made a controversial post, on which Swastika Mukherjee had commented.
Joydeep said, "A case has already been filed against Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Their comments incited the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, rape and molestation of BJP women workers, and the violence committed by the Trinamool Congress in 2021."
The lawyer further alleged that as influential public figures, the actors' words carried significant weight and directly contributed to violence against BJP workers, including arson and sexual assault.
Actors Yet to Respond
Neither Parambrata nor Swastika has publicly responded to the complaint. The complaint followed a meeting at Technicians Studio called by BJP MLA and actor Rudranil Ghosh, where Parambrata was also present. There, the actor revealed he had supported the previous Trinamool Congress government under alleged pressure from former state minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas.
He stated, "That day, I did everything by looking at the face of my new-born child and gritting my teeth. There was no other way. I did not come here to take personal revenge against anyone. But since I consider you a family member, I shared the personal insult. May such a situation not arise in the future."
A clip of the statement went viral, drawing sharp criticism online, with many accusing the actor of opportunism, and the complaint followed shortly after.
Background and Implications
The 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections were marked by intense political rivalry and sporadic violence. The aftermath saw several allegations of post-poll violence targeting BJP workers. This legal action highlights the ongoing tensions and the role of public figures in shaping political discourse. The case under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertains to abetment of an offense, and if proven, could have serious consequences for the actors.
As the matter unfolds, it remains to be seen how the actors will respond legally and whether the complaint will lead to formal charges. The incident underscores the delicate balance between freedom of expression and responsibility, especially for public personalities with significant influence.
