The Calcutta High Court on Friday granted interim relief to actor and director Parambrata Chatterjee, directing that no coercive steps be taken against him for four weeks in connection with a case filed at the Gariahat police station. The case pertains to a social media post allegedly linked to the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal.
Court Proceedings and Interim Protection
Chatterjee had moved the vacation bench of Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee seeking protection from arrest. The court, while providing interim relief, instructed the actor to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The bench also directed that Chatterjee shall not obstruct the state authorities from submitting a final report after the conclusion of the probe.
Details of the FIR
On May 21, an FIR was registered against Parambrata Chatterjee under Sections 153A (1)(a) and 109 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 153A(1)(a) deals with promoting or attempting to promote disharmony, hatred, or enmity between different religious, racial, language, regional, or caste groups, and is a non-bailable offence. Section 109 pertains to abetment.
Arguments by the Defence
Advocate Moyukh Mukherjee, representing Chatterjee, challenged the proceedings, arguing that the FIR lacked specific averments or any overt act or unlawful conduct on the part of the petitioner. The petition also stated that there was no allegation of conspiracy in the case.
Actor's Response
Reacting to the development, Parambrata Chatterjee said, “As the matter is sub-judice before the Honourable High Court, as a responsible citizen, I shall render full cooperation to the process in the coming days, as and when necessary.”
This case has drawn attention due to the actor's prominence in the Bengali film industry and the nature of the charges. The court's interim protection allows Chatterjee to avoid arrest while the matter is under judicial scrutiny.
