A sedition case has been filed against the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, following controversial remarks concerning the murder of Osman Hadi, a spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Inqilab Mancha. The case was filed on Thursday at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station by Rinki Singh Chatterjee, an advocate practicing at the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court, according to reports from the Hindustan Times.
The complaint alleges that during a public rally on Rashmoni Road in Kolkata on June 2, Banerjee made inflammatory statements regarding a murder in Bangladesh. Although she did not name any specific individual, the complaint argues her comments clearly alluded to the killing of Osman Hadi. Banerjee had claimed that a "major killer" from Bangladesh had crossed the Meghalaya border into West Bengal, where he was subsequently arrested by the state’s Special Task Force (STF). She further alleged that the then-Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, had personally called her, requesting that the matter be kept confidential as it involved national security.
Banerjee questioned Shah at the rally, asking who had ordered the murder and whose names had surfaced during the investigation. She claimed to possess extensive information but stated she would withhold specific names to avoid inciting turmoil in Bangladesh, citing her affection for the neighboring country. Advocates for the sedition case argue that these remarks breach Banerjee’s constitutional oath to protect the security, sovereignty, and integrity of India. They contend that disclosing private conversations with the Union Home Minister for political leverage risks undermining India`s international standing and national security.
The legal complaint invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 152, 153, 153(A), 191, 192, 196, 351, 352, and 353. Section 152 of the newly implemented criminal code specifically addresses activities that endanger or compromise the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, and is considered a non-bailable offense.
Advocate Rinki Singh Chatterjee has demanded a neutral and thorough investigation into these remarks. She stated that once the Calcutta High Court reopens on June 8, she intends to petition for an arrest warrant against the former Chief Minister. This development has triggered a significant political firestorm, as Banerjee now faces mounting legal pressure. While there has been no official statement from either Banerjee`s camp or the central government regarding the filing of the case, political observers note that this legal escalation could have lasting implications for the diplomatic and political landscape between India and Bangladesh.
