Kolkata Police arrested Congress leader and advocate Koustav Bagchi for making derogatory remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on a private television talk show.
It has been reported that a written complaint was lodged following his remarks at the Burtolla Police Station in Kolkata and police registered an FIR based on the complaint instantly.
Police arrested Bagchi after hours of interrogation
A police team from Burtolla police station reached the leader’s residence at Barrackpore around 3 am.
On Saturday morning, the Congress spokesperson was arrested around 7:30 am after being questioned for hours,
According to Kolkata Police, a case under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 354A (sexual harassment), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (act induces or is likely to induce any person to commit offence against state or against public tranquility), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Indian penal code (IPC) has been registered against Bagchi.
Kolkata Police said he will be produced before the Bankshall court today and they will push for his police custody.
How did Congress respond?
Around 4 am on Saturday, Bagchi took to Facebook and wrote, “Finally I have been arrested.” Following his social media post, Congress workers started protesting in front of Burtolla Police Station, demanding Bagchi’s immediate release.
As per media reports, State Congress Spokesperson Suman Roy Chowdhury said, "I strongly condemn Kolkata Police for arresting Koustav Bagchi at midnight. The Mamata government cannot take away anyone's freedom of speech. The government should release Koustav Bagchi immediately.”
"As TMC faced defeat in the Murshidabad’s Sagardighi constituency bypoll, they are trying to take revenge by being vindictive. Attempts are being made to crush democracy and freedom of speech in this state.", he further added.
