Amit Malviya challenges Kolkata Police notice, seeks specific IT Act violation in post against Mamata-Abhishek power struggle

Kolkata Police issued a notice to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding a post by Amit Malviya, head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell and the party’s central observer for West Bengal. The notice cited a possible violation of the Information Technology Act related to a post made by Malviya on May 8, which referred to a political conflict between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee.

The post addressed Abhishek Banerjee using informal terms and described a power struggle involving him and Mamata Banerjee, stating: “On one side Mamata, on the other bhaipo, the real struggle for power is on! But who is paying the price? The common people of Bengal.” Malviya also alleged involvement of Abhishek Banerjee in multiple state scams and suggested that the electorate would hold him accountable in the 2026 elections.

Following the notice, Amit Malviya publicly questioned the Kolkata Police, asking that the specific provision of the IT Act allegedly violated be disclosed to the public. He said, “But shouldn’t the public be told which provision exactly has been violated?” He further advised the police commissioner to focus police resources on more important and productive duties.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma is the official to whom the notice was addressed. However, no official statement from the police regarding the notice or the specific legal grounds cited has been released so far. The notice and Malviya’s response highlight the ongoing tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal.

The post and subsequent police action are part of wider political disputes in the state, where allegations of corruption and power struggles are frequent between the two parties. The issue remains unresolved pending further clarification from Kolkata Police on the IT Act violation mentioned in the notice.