Celebrity Dancer Takes Stand Against Online Abuse
Renowned classical dancer Dona Ganguly, wife of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, has filed a formal police complaint against a Facebook page for subjecting her to body-shaming and derogatory comments. The incident occurred following her performance at a recent film festival where she faced personal criticism that crossed the line into online harassment.
Formal Complaint Lodged with Kolkata Police
In her complaint submitted at Thakurpukur Police Station, Dona Ganguly expressed deep distress over the public humiliation she endured. "I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against a Facebook page that has publicly humiliated and body-shamed me," she wrote in her complaint letter. The accomplished dancer emphasized that the derogatory content posted against her was deeply disrespectful and had caused significant harm to her dignity and reputation as both a public figure and artist.
Dona Ganguly clearly stated that she considers this incident defamatory in nature, asserting that "the actions of this page violate my rights and amount to online harassment." This strong stance reflects growing concerns among public figures about the boundaries of acceptable criticism versus outright harassment.
Legal Action Underway
The Kolkata Police have responded promptly by lodging a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which specifically criminalizes acts, words, or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Deputy Commissioner Rahul De from Behala-South West confirmed that "we have started a probe. Requisitions have been sent to Facebook to help us in this investigation."
This isn't the first time Dona Ganguly has faced online harassment. In March this year, she had filed a separate complaint with the Kolkata Police cyber cell against a female YouTuber for allegedly spreading defamatory content about her family on social media.
Artists and Celebrities Rally Against Online Abuse
Taniya Bhattacharya, secretary to Sourav Ganguly, came out in strong support of Dona Ganguly, drawing a powerful parallel between artists and national protectors. "Dona Ganguly has been dancing for the last 45 years. Just as the Army protects our country at the borders, our artists protect the culture and legacy of India. Disrespecting them weakens the very fabric of who we are," Bhattacharya stated.
The problem of online trolling affecting celebrities isn't new to the entertainment industry. Several Tollywood actors have faced similar vicious trolling, including Swastika Mukherjee and Ritabhari Chakraborty. While Mukherjee typically handles online criticism by confidently asserting her right to make her own choices, Chakraborty has developed a different approach.
Ritabhari Chakraborty explained her personal strategy: "I delete and block trolls on my personal account, viewing it as my personal space. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and can use their own places and platforms to criticise or be bitter about me. But my account feels like my home."
Other celebrities have taken more direct legal action. Actor Oindrila Sen lodged an FIR a couple of years ago for repeated harassment by a fan who was targeting actor Ankush Hazra. Sen revealed: "The person was frustrated since Ankush didn't react to her messages and threatened to end her life and blame Ankush for that. This got so serious that I lodged an FIR."
Actor Subhasree Ganguly, who has been subjected to numerous online trolls herself—with criticisms ranging from her English skills to unfounded claims about reading a book upside down—expressed solidarity with Dona Ganguly's decision. "I respect Dona-di's decision to protest. No one should be body-shamed. I never read any comments. I do not want to allow anyone to disturb my mental peace and happiness," she stated.
The growing trend of celebrities taking legal action against online harassment marks a significant shift in how public figures are choosing to protect their dignity and mental wellbeing in the digital age.
