Did Bengal Migrant Workers Face Harassment? Complaint Against CM Mamata Banerjee Refuted by Delhi Police

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Accusations of false information are serious and can have widespread consequences.
- The role of social media in shaping public opinion is increasingly scrutinized.
- Law enforcement's integrity must be upheld amidst political disputes.
- Community relations can be fragile and need careful handling.
- Legal frameworks are essential in addressing misinformation.
Kolkata, July 29 (NationPress) BJP Lok Sabha member from Kanthi constituency in East Midnapore, Soumendu Adhikari, lodged a complaint with Delhi Police on Tuesday, targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He accused her of spreading false and provocative information via her social media about the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal in BJP-governed regions.
Soumendu Adhikari is the younger sibling of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
The complaint centers around a video posted by the Chief Minister on her official X account, where she alleged that the Delhi Police harassed and tortured a Bengali-speaking migrant family.
In the video, she claimed that a child and his mother from a migrant family in West Bengal's Malda district were reportedly assaulted by police in New Delhi.
In a formal complaint submitted to the Cyber Crime Branch of Delhi Police, a copy of which is with IANS, Soumendu Adhikari urged the police to file an FIR against the Chief Minister under relevant sections of the IT Act and take suitable legal action.
His letter stated, "I am formally complaining against Smt. Mamata Banerjee, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, for intentionally spreading false, fabricated, and communal content through her official social media, aiming to tarnish the reputation of the Delhi Police, incite public unrest, and create inter-community discord."
Adhikari emphasized that this incident undermines the rule of law, disrupts inter-state and inter-community harmony, and erodes citizens' trust in law enforcement.
On Monday, the Delhi Police labeled the video as fabricated and politically motivated.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania stated that after thorough investigation, the Delhi Police concluded that the video was entirely baseless and fabricated.
“This video has been intentionally circulated on social media to damage the reputation of the Delhi Police. Further investigations are ongoing,” Dhania added on Monday.
Following the Delhi Police's rebuttal, BJP's Information Technology Cell Chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, criticized Mamata Banerjee for disseminating fake news.