Parambrata Chatterjee moves Calcutta HC to quash FIR over 2021 poll violence post
Synopsis
Actor Parambrata Chatterjee has run to the Calcutta High Court to quash an FIR that followed a viral video of him claiming he supported the TMC government under duress. With a hearing set for 29 May and co-accused Swastika Mukherjee already questioned by police, the case spotlights the intensifying political crossfire engulfing Bengal's film fraternity.
Key Takeaways
Parambrata Chatterjee filed a plea in the Calcutta High Court on 27 May to quash an FIR registered at Gariahat Police Station .
The FIR, filed by advocate Joydeep Sen , alleges a provocative social media post linked to 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence .
Actress Swastika Mukherjee faces a separate FIR in the same case; she appeared for questioning on 23 May .
Chatterjee claimed at a BJP MLA's meeting that he was pressured by former TMC minister Aroop Biswas to support the previous government.
The petition has been admitted; the next hearing is scheduled for 29 May before Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee .
Actor Parambrata Chatterjee on Wednesday, 27 May approached a vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court seeking to quash an FIR registered against him at Gariahat Police Station under the South Division of Kolkata Police. The complaint, filed by advocate Joydeep Sen, accuses Chatterjee of making a provocative social media statement and allegedly instigating post-poll violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The FIR and Court Proceedings
The Calcutta High Court admitted the petition, with the matter scheduled for hearing on 29 May before the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee. The court is currently under its summer recess. The FIR was registered last week, and Chatterjee's move to seek its quashing comes instead of responding to a police notice for interrogation.
Swastika Mukherjee Also Named
A separate FIR was registered against actress Swastika Mukherjee, daughter of the late Bengali actor Santu Mukherjee, for allegedly endorsing the same social media post. Unlike Chatterjee, Mukherjee complied with the police notice and appeared at Gariahat Police Station on 23 May for questioning. Chatterjee chose not to appear and instead filed the quashing plea.
The Statement That Sparked the Controversy
The controversy stems from remarks Chatterjee made at a meeting called by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh at Technicians Studio on the same day. Chatterjee claimed he had been compelled to publicly support the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government under pressure from former state minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas.
In his own words: 'That day, I did everything by looking at the face of my newborn child and gritting my teeth. There was no other way. I did not come here to take personal revenge against anyone. But since I consider you a family member, I shared the personal insult. May such a situation not arise in the future.'
Viral Backlash and Political Fallout
A video clip of Chatterjee's remarks spread rapidly on social media, drawing sharp criticism from many who accused him of switching political allegiances. The complaint against him was filed shortly after the video circulated widely. This comes amid a broader pattern of Bengali film and cultural personalities facing scrutiny over their political associations in the charged atmosphere following the 2021 assembly polls.
The next hearing on 29 May will determine whether the court grants interim relief to the actor or allows the FIR to stand.
Point of View
And the timing — made at a BJP MLA's gathering — hands his critics a ready narrative of opportunism. The broader story here is the weaponisation of FIRs against cultural figures in West Bengal's post-poll reckoning, a pattern that cuts across party lines and rarely results in conviction but reliably produces headlines and pressure.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was an FIR filed against Parambrata Chatterjee?
An FIR was registered against Parambrata Chatterjee at Gariahat Police Station on the basis of a complaint by advocate Joydeep Sen, alleging that the actor made a provocative social media statement and instigated post-poll violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
What has the Calcutta High Court decided so far?
The Calcutta High Court admitted Chatterjee's petition seeking to quash the FIR. The matter is listed for hearing on 29 May before the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee.
Who else has been named in the FIR?
Actress Swastika Mukherjee, daughter of the late Bengali actor Santu Mukherjee, was also named in a separate FIR for allegedly endorsing the same social media post. She appeared at Gariahat Police Station on 23 May for questioning.
What did Parambrata Chatterjee say that triggered the controversy?
At a meeting organised by BJP MLA Rudranil Ghosh at Technicians Studio, Chatterjee claimed he had been pressured by former TMC minister Aroop Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas to publicly support the previous state government. A video of the remarks went viral and drew widespread criticism.
What happens next in the case?
The Calcutta High Court is scheduled to hear the quashing petition on 29 May. The court's ruling will determine whether the FIR against Chatterjee is set aside or whether the police investigation proceeds.
