'Bangla Paksha' founder and activist Garga Chatterjee walked free on Friday, 22 May after a lower court in Kolkata granted him bail against a personal bond of ₹2,000. He had spent ten days in custody following his arrest on 12 May by the Kolkata Police.

Background to the Arrest

Chatterjee was taken into custody after he allegedly ignored police summons for interrogation linked to a complaint filed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The complaint, routed through the cyber-crime department of Kolkata Police, alleged that his public comments about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) ahead of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Specifically, Chatterjee had reportedly questioned why EVMs were allegedly malfunctioning during vote-counting despite being sealed, and had advised voters to carefully verify the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips before casting their votes. The ECI maintained that such statements were not merely criticism but a deliberate attempt to erode public confidence in the electoral process.

Bullets Recovered, Questions Raised

At the time of his arrest on 12 May, the Kolkata Police also claimed to have recovered 24 rounds of ammunition from Chatterjee's residence. Police alleged he lacked the requisite legal documentation from competent authorities to possess the bullets. The discovery drew sharp reactions, with observers from various quarters questioning why a language and cultural activist would be in possession of live ammunition.

Court Proceedings

Chatterjee was produced before a lower court in Kolkata on 13 May, which remanded him to police custody until 22 May. On Friday, the same court granted him bail, setting the bond at ₹2,000. Police had alleged during proceedings that he made provocative statements during the election period and spread rumours regarding EVM credibility.

'Bangla Paksha' and the ECI Dispute

Beyond the EVM controversy, Chatterjee's outfit 'Bangla Paksha' had separately accused the ECI of denying permission for a pre-election procession, adding another layer of tension between the organisation and poll authorities. Critics argue that the arrest of a vocal EVM sceptic in the run-up to election results raises broader questions about the boundaries of political dissent and the application of the MCC.

With bail now secured, attention turns to how the case proceeds — and whether the ammunition recovery charge will be pursued independently of the election-related complaint.