FIR against former CM Mamata Banerjee over alleged communal remarks in Bengal

A first information report (FIR) was registered against former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee for allegedly making provocative and communal remarks during the last Assembly election campaign, a senior police officer said on Friday (June 12, 2026). At a rally, Ms. Banerjee allegedly told a minority community that their safety depended on her political presence, without which they would be destroyed.

“It’s a Zero FIR that was lodged on June 7. It was initially filed at the Netaji Nagar police station based on a complaint submitted by an individual Tushar Kanti Das (45). However, the case was later transferred to the Hare Street police station,” the officer said.

In his complaint, Mr. Das alleged that, during a protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise at the Dharna Mancha in Esplanade on March 9, Ms. Banerjee had delivered a misleading speech pertaining to criminal intimidation, intending to provoke a breach of the peace, affecting public tranquillity, communal harmony, and the democratic structure of the State.

‘Minorities’ safety depends on TMC’

The complaint copy, seen by The Hindu, read, “Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal and Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress, while addressing a political rally, made statements cautioning the public not to be misled by the alleged ‘misleading publicity’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, it was not made sufficiently clear as to what specific misinformation or misleading publicity was being referred to.”

He alleged that during the rally, Ms. Banerjee had addressed a specific minority community saying that their safety depended on her political presence. “Aamra achhi bole apnara bhalo achhen sobai. R jodi aamra na thaki…ek second e debe akdom barota bajiye…jodi nijeder terota bajate na chan, BJP er opo prochare keu bhul bujhben na.(You all are safe because we are here. If we are not here, they will destroy you in a second. If you don’t want to ruin yourselves, don’t pay heed to the BJP’s misleading words),” Ms. Banerjee said at the rally, according to Mr. Das’s complaint.

This statement prima facie appears to be provocative, inflammatory, and capable of promoting communal disharmony, fear, hatred, misunderstanding, and tension among different communities, he said in the FIR.

‘May incite communal sentiments’

“The statement may reasonably be perceived as creating apprehension and insecurity in the minds of ordinary citizens and, if left unchecked, may adversely affect public tranquillity, communal harmony, and the democratic atmosphere of the State. I respectfully submit that speeches or statements which may incite communal sentiments, spread fear, or disturb harmony among different groups are contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of India and may attract relevant legal provisions,” Mr. Das urged in the FIR.

The case was lodged under Sections 96(1), 351(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Another FIR had been lodged against Ms. Banerjee on May 27, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Sanatan Dharma while attending an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year. That complaint, lodged by advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh at the Siliguri Cyber Police Station, accused the TMC supremo of referring to Sanatan Dharma as “ganda dharma (dirty religion)”, which had “deeply hurt the religious sentiments and beliefs of millions of followers.”