Renowned Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly, wife of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, has taken legal action against relentless social media abuse targeting her appearance and weight. The celebrated artist filed an official complaint at Kolkata's Thakurpukur Police Station following a stream of obscene and body-shaming comments on Facebook.
What Triggered the Latest Wave of Harassment?
According to the police complaint filed on Wednesday night, the cyber bullying intensified after Dona Ganguly's performance at the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) 2025, held between November 6 and 13. The dancer presented a recital set to a song composed and written by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Dona stated in her complaint that a particular Facebook page repeatedly uploaded derogatory remarks about her appearance and weight, accompanied by multiple images taken from her KIFF performance. The page used foul language and obscene commentary that the dancer described as damaging to her dignity and reputation.
Police Response and Investigation Details
Kolkata Police have confirmed receiving the complaint and registering a case against unknown persons. The matter has been forwarded to the Cyber Cell, which has launched a thorough investigation to identify the individual or individuals behind the abusive Facebook page.
Police sources revealed that investigators are examining whether the accused acted alone or as part of a wider network engaged in coordinated online harassment. Authorities are expected to question the account holders associated with the mobile number that Dona Ganguly provided as evidence, along with submitted screenshots of the offensive posts.
Pattern of Previous Digital Harassment
This incident marks the fourth time Dona Ganguly has sought police intervention against digital harassment:
- In 2021, she reported a fake Facebook profile using personal photographs of herself, Sourav Ganguly and their daughter Sana
- In 2022, she lodged another complaint after her Facebook account and linked email were allegedly hacked
- In March 2025, she filed a case against a female YouTuber who described herself as a neighbor and posted defamatory allegations against the Ganguly family
The latest incident adds to this disturbing pattern of targeted online abuse, highlighting the urgent need for stronger measures against cyber harassment in India. The investigation may expand if police discover links to other accounts or evidence of coordinated trolling mechanisms.
Dona Ganguly, who has been a professional Odissi dancer for four-and-a-half decades with performances across India and internationally, emphasized in her complaint that the recent comments had severely affected her professional reputation and personal dignity.
