Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay rushes HC seeking FIR quashing in post-poll violence

Actor-director Parambrata Chattopadhyay has approached the Calcutta High Court seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him over alleged provocation linked to post-poll violence in West Bengal. The petition is also aimed at securing protection from arrest in connection with the case registered at Gariahat Police Station. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on May 29 before the vacation bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mukhopadhyay.

The case originated from a social media post made on May 2, 2021, the day the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were announced. After the All India Trinamool Congress secured victory, Parambrata Chattopadhyay allegedly posted a remark directed at BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, stating: “Let World Beating Day be declared.” Actress Swastika Mukherjee had responded to the post with the comment: “Yes, let it happen…”

Recently, lawyer Joydeep Sen submitted a written complaint at Gariahat Police Station alleging that the social media posts contributed to provocation during a period when incidents of post-poll violence were being reported from different parts of the state. Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR against both Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Swastika Mukherjee.

Police invoked IPC Sections 109 relating to abetment and 153A relating to promoting enmity between groups, with Section 153A being non-bailable. Notices were issued summoning both actors for questioning. Swastika Mukherjee appeared before Gariahat Police Station last Saturday and was questioned for more than an hour, while Parambrata Chattopadhyay chose to challenge the legality of the FIR before the Calcutta High Court.