Bangla Pokkho founder Garga Chatterjee arrested over alleged EVM-related remarks

Garga Chatterjee, founder and general secretary of Bangla Pokkho, was arrested on Tuesday by the Cyber Cell of Kolkata Police over allegations related to provocative remarks and the alleged spread of misinformation regarding Electronic Voting Machines during the West Bengal Assembly elections. According to police sources, the arrest was made following a complaint lodged by the Election Commission with the Cyber Crime Division. He is scheduled to be produced before a court on Wednesday.

According to the allegations, Garga Chatterjee repeatedly questioned the functioning of EVMs during the election and counting process. He had publicly raised doubts regarding alleged EVM malfunctioning during counting despite the machines being sealed overnight. He also advised voters to carefully verify VVPAT slips before leaving polling booths after casting their votes. Investigators alleged that statements made by him regarding the election process amounted to spreading rumours and false information.

Police sources stated that Garga Chatterjee was taken into custody from the Deshapriya Park area in Kolkata. According to reports, 24 rounds of cartridges were recovered from his Personal Security Officer during the operation. The FIR related to the case was reportedly filed on the basis of a complaint submitted by North Kolkata District Election Officer Smita Pandey following remarks made after the declaration of election results on May 4.

Bangla Pokkho, founded on December 25, 2017, is an organisation focused on Bengali identity, language and cultural rights in West Bengal. The organisation has campaigned for wider use of Bengali in administration, compulsory Bengali language education across all school boards and greater employment opportunities for Bengali youth. During the Assembly elections, the organisation also accused the Election Commission of denying permission for a Poila Boishakh rally, while the Commission stated that the request was rejected because the Model Code of Conduct was in force at the time.