Police complaint filed against Abhishek Banerjee over Bengal poll social media post
Synopsis
Days before West Bengal's election results, TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee allegedly referred to the Gujarati community as a 'gang' in social media posts. A Kolkata resident has now filed a formal complaint at Bhabanipur Police Station, raising questions about communal harmony and the responsibilities of an elected Lok Sabha member.
Key Takeaways
A police complaint was filed against Abhishek Banerjee at Bhabanipur Police Station , Kolkata , on Wednesday, 27 May .
Complainant Arnab Kanti Ghosh accused Banerjee of allegedly calling the Gujarati community a 'gang' in social media posts dated 2 May .
The posts were made two days before the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced.
It was not confirmed at the time of filing whether a formal FIR had been registered.
The Trinamool Congress had not issued any response to the complaint.
A fresh police complaint has been filed against All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee at the Bhabanipur Police Station in Kolkata on Wednesday, accusing him of making objectionable social media statements on 2 May — two days before the results of the West Bengal Assembly elections were declared. The complaint was filed by an individual named Arnab Kanti Ghosh and was officially received by the station, though it remained unclear at the time of filing whether a formal First Information Report (FIR) had been registered.
What the Complaint Alleges
According to the complaint, Banerjee — the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — allegedly referred to the entire Gujarati community as a 'gang' or criminal group in his social media posts. Ghosh argued that such remarks were not only an insult to a specific community but also an assault on India's pluralistic culture and social harmony.
The complainant further questioned how Banerjee, having taken an oath as a Lok Sabha member to uphold the sovereignty of the Constitution and the territorial integrity of the country, could make such sweeping characterisations of a community. According to Ghosh, such statements from an elected representative were 'extremely irresponsible' and amounted to blanket slander.
Community Contributions Cited
Ghosh's complaint highlighted that the Gujarati community has long made significant contributions to business, industry, economic development, and social service across India, including in West Bengal. The complainant contended that dismissing an entire community in such terms undermined those contributions and risked stoking communal tension.
Timing and Political Context
The social media posts in question were reportedly made on 2 May, two days before the announcement of the West Bengal Assembly election results. The complaint raised concerns that had the Trinamool Congress returned to power, such remarks could have created conditions for political or communal violence against the Gujarati community living in the state. This comes amid a broader pattern of heightened political rhetoric in the run-up to and aftermath of state elections in West Bengal.
No Response from TMC
As of the time of filing, the Trinamool Congress had not issued any reaction to the complaint. It also remained unclear whether the Bhabanipur Police Station had taken any further cognisance beyond formally receiving the written complaint. The matter is expected to draw political attention given Banerjee's stature within the TMC and his proximity to the party's leadership.
Point of View
Made days before results, fit a recurring pattern of pre-result rhetoric that tests constitutional guardrails. The absence of any TMC response is notable: it leaves Banerjee exposed without party cover, even as the complaint itself may not progress beyond a written submission. The broader question — whether elected representatives face meaningful accountability for community-targeting speech — remains unanswered in India's current political climate.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the police complaint against Abhishek Banerjee about?
The complaint, filed at Bhabanipur Police Station in Kolkata on 27 May, accuses TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee of allegedly referring to the Gujarati community as a 'gang' in social media posts made on 2 May. The complainant argues the remarks threatened communal harmony and were unbecoming of a sitting Lok Sabha member.
Who filed the complaint against Abhishek Banerjee?
An individual named Arnab Kanti Ghosh filed the complaint at Bhabanipur Police Station in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon. The station officially received the written complaint.
Has an FIR been registered against Abhishek Banerjee?
As of the time of filing, it was not confirmed whether a formal First Information Report (FIR) had been registered on the basis of the complaint. The police had received the written submission, but further action was unclear.
Why does the timing of the social media posts matter?
The posts were allegedly made on 2 May, two days before the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. The complainant argued that such remarks, made in a charged pre-result atmosphere, could have incited communal or political violence against the Gujarati community in the state.
What has the Trinamool Congress said about the complaint?
The Trinamool Congress had not issued any reaction to the complaint at the time of reporting. Abhishek Banerjee himself had also not publicly responded to the allegations.
