Case filed against TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee for ‘provocative’ speeches during poll campaign

The West Bengal Police on Friday filed a first information report against Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee for allegedly provocative speeches he made during campaigning for the Assembly elections, including alleged threats directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, India Today reported.

The FIR was based on a complaint filed by a man identified as Rajib Sarkar on May 5, a day after the election results were announced, at the Baguiati Police Station. His complaint alleged that Abhishek Banerjee made inflammatory remarks during campaign events held between April 27 and May 3.

The speeches made by the TMC’s national general secretary promoted enmity and disturbed public tranquillity, his complaint alleged, adding that it also included threats directed at the Union home minister.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sarkar said that Banerjee “used strong language, challenging Amit Shah to face the public without central security after the election results, and claimed that the Trinamool Congress would finish the game that he alleged was started by the BJP”.

The case on Friday was filed at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to provocation with an intent to incite a riot, promoting enmity and hatred, criminal intimidation and circulation of false information, rumors to incite hatred.

The provision pertaining to promoting enmity and hatred is...

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