Political Tensions Escalate as Bengal Police Accuse UP Counterparts of Aiding Escape in Moitra Fake Chat Case
In a dramatic development highlighting interstate political friction, police forces from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have issued conflicting statements regarding the detention and alleged escape of a suspect accused of posting forged social media chats involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. The incident has sparked accusations of political interference and procedural overreach, further intensifying the already heated atmosphere between the two states governed by opposing political parties.
Contradictory Narratives from Police Departments
West Bengal Police, operating from Krishnanagar in Nadia district – which constitutes Moitra's Lok Sabha constituency – asserted in an official statement on social media platform X that their team, with full cooperation from Uttar Pradesh Police, successfully executed an arrest warrant and detained the accused in Noida on February 10. However, they claimed that following external communications by certain political functionaries, the team was taken to the local police station where lawful proceedings were interrupted, enabling the accused to abscond. The statement emphasized that efforts to apprehend him are ongoing and revealed that preliminary digital forensic examination by the cyber cell has conclusively established the circulated chat screenshots as forged and fabricated, indicating a larger conspiracy.
In stark contrast, Noida police authorities have categorically denied these allegations, describing them as baseless and unfounded. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy stated that the accused – identified as the owner of a news portal – was not present at his residence in Lotus Panache society when a joint team from Bengal and UP police conducted a search on Tuesday night. Therefore, the question of him escaping detention does not arise. Police sources in Noida provided a detailed account to media, explaining that the Krishnanagar police team visited Phase 2 police station, informed them of their purpose, and were assisted by local personnel, including the in-charge of Sector 110 police outpost.
Detailed Account of the Search Operation
According to Noida police sources, when the teams arrived at the suspect's flat in Tower 12, his wife opened the door and communicated in Bengali that he had gone out for work. The teams thoroughly searched the premises and made inquiries with residents for several hours but failed to locate him. CCTV footage from cameras installed in the society premises can confirm that he was never taken into custody, a source emphasized. The Phase 2 police station Station House Officer also reached the society during the search. Additionally, the Krishnanagar police team attempted to call the accused's number, but his phone was switched off. Society guards initially stopped the Bengal police team, but intervention by local police allowed them to proceed.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The contrasting takes have generated significant political heat on social media. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused West Bengal Police of overreach, questioning why the state police machinery is being weaponized against individuals amplifying content already in public circulation. He criticized the swift issuance of a notice demanding appearance within 24 hours and a hurried warrant, contrasting it with the perceived slow pace in handling graver crimes. Meanwhile, MP Mahua Moitra reiterated that forensic lab reports confirm the chats as forged and fake, asserting that those involved will face the full extent of the law for defamation, forgery, and circulating fake content.
This case stems from a February 6 First Information Report (FIR) in which Moitra accused multiple social media users of posting malicious chats featuring her and political strategist Prashant Kishor. On February 7, authorities asked platform X to take down the posts and issued notices to some accused, including the Noida-based news portal owner. When he failed to respond, a four-member team from Krishnanagar Kotwali traveled to Noida with an arrest warrant from a court in Bengal's Nadia district.
The incident underscores several critical issues:
- Interstate police coordination challenges in high-profile cases
- Allegations of political interference in law enforcement procedures
- The growing problem of forged digital content and its legal ramifications
- Escalating tensions between state administrations with differing political affiliations
As investigations continue, the focus remains on locating the accused and determining the precise sequence of events that led to the current standoff between two of India's most prominent police forces.
