Kolkata: Trinamool Congress veteran and Kolkata South MP Mala Roy surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate at the Alipore Court on Wednesday. The court granted bail to Roy, her son, and 22 co-accused individuals. Beyond her parliamentary role, Roy also serves as a councillor and the chairperson of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Background of the Case
The surrender follows a criminal case registered against Roy, her son, and 22 others at the Tollygunge Police Station. The case involves allegations of assault on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker and threats made at gunpoint on the day of the election results. According to police, the case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Tollygunge Police Station. The accused are booked under various sections of the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation, Section 115 for voluntarily causing hurt, and Section 74 for using criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty.
Details of the Incident
The prosecution's case states that around 6 pm on May 4, hours after the election results were declared, Roy, her son, and several Trinamool workers, armed with firearms and sharp weapons, launched an assault on BJP workers on Sadhu Taracharan Road. A Tollygunge Police Station officer said, "The complaint stated that one of the accused outraged the modesty of a female BJP worker." One person was earlier arrested in connection with the clash.
Roy's Defense
Denying the allegations, Roy defended herself and described the legal action as a targeted smear campaign. In a statement to the Times of India, Roy claimed that the FIR was politically motivated. "Everyone knows about my health condition. Is it possible for me to physically threaten anyone? This is a false and motivated FIR intended to harass me, my family, and the workers. I went to court myself around 2 pm and surrendered," said Roy.
Legal Representation
Roy's defense counsel, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, said the charges lacked substance. "False allegations were levelled against Roy, her son, and 22 others that they assaulted BJP workers on May 4. The FIR was lodged on the same day based on a complaint by a BJP worker. Roy, her son, and a few other persons surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate in Alipore court on Wednesday. They were granted bail," Bhattacharya told reporters at Alipore court.
