Swastika Mukherjee questioned at Kolkata police station in 2021 post-poll violence FIR
Synopsis
Four years after the 2021 West Bengal election violence, a Kolkata lawyer's complaint has brought actress Swastika Mukherjee to a police station for questioning over a two-word comment on a social media post. The case raises pointed questions about where political expression ends and abetment begins — and puts two of Bengali cinema's most prominent faces at the centre of a politically charged legal battle.
Key Takeaways
Swastika Mukherjee appeared at Gariahat Police Station , Kolkata, on 23 May and was questioned for nearly one hour .
An FIR was filed against her and actor Parambrata Chatterjee by lawyer Joydeep Sen over a 2 May 2021 social media exchange.
Chatterjee allegedly posted 'Today should be declared as a thrashing day' after TMC's election victory; Swastika allegedly commented 'Hahaha, let it be!' The complaint invokes Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , alleging the posts abetted post-poll violence against BJP workers.
Swastika left the station without speaking to the media; it remains unclear when Parambrata Chatterjee will appear before investigators.
Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee appeared before investigators at Gariahat Police Station in Kolkata on Saturday, 23 May, in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) filed against her and fellow actor Parambrata Chatterjee over allegations of inciting post-poll violence through social media comments made in 2021. The actress was questioned for nearly an hour before leaving the station without addressing the media.
Background of the FIR
The complaint was filed by Kolkata-based lawyer Joydeep Sen, who alleged that a social media post by Parambrata Chatterjee on 2 May 2021 — the day All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) crossed the majority mark in the West Bengal Assembly elections — amounted to political provocation. According to the complainant, Chatterjee had written: 'Today should be declared as a thrashing day.' Swastika had allegedly responded to the post with the comment: 'Hahaha, let it be!'
Sen contended that such remarks contributed to political violence that erupted in the state following the election results. The complaint invoked Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to abetment of offences.
Key Developments at Gariahat Police Station
Following the registration of the FIR, police summoned Swastika Mukherjee, directing her to appear before investigators within seven days. She complied on Saturday afternoon, presenting herself at Gariahat Police Station in response to the summons. After approximately one hour of questioning regarding her alleged support for Chatterjee's post, she departed the station in her vehicle. She did not make any statement to journalists gathered outside.
Neither Parambrata Chatterjee nor Swastika Mukherjee had publicly responded to the FIR prior to her appearance. It remains unclear when Chatterjee will appear before investigators.
Allegations Cited in the Complaint
The complainant alleged that the social media exchange took place at a time when widespread violence — including attacks, murders, rapes, arson, and physical assaults on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers — was reported across several districts of West Bengal. The complaint specifically referenced the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar of Beliaghata, Kolkata, as one of the incidents from that period.
Lawyer Joydeep Sen had also demanded a speedy investigation, a request that preceded the formal registration of the FIR and the subsequent summons.
What Happens Next
With Swastika Mukherjee having recorded her statement, attention now shifts to when Parambrata Chatterjee — the original author of the contested post — will appear before the police. The case is being watched closely given its intersection of celebrity, political violence, and the legal boundaries of social media expression in the context of electoral outcomes.
Point of View
Particularly given the continued political salience of 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence. That a two-word comment ('Hahaha, let it be!') is being prosecuted under abetment provisions of the BNS tests the outer limits of incitement law as applied to social media. The case also underscores a broader pattern: in India's polarised political climate, celebrity endorsements — even casual ones — are increasingly being treated as actionable political acts. Whether this FIR survives judicial scrutiny will depend heavily on whether investigators can establish a direct causal link between the posts and specific acts of violence, a standard that courts have historically set high.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Swastika Mukherjee summoned by Kolkata police?
Swastika Mukherjee was summoned in connection with an FIR filed by lawyer Joydeep Sen, who alleged that her comment on actor Parambrata Chatterjee's social media post on 2 May 2021 contributed to post-poll violence in West Bengal. Police asked her to appear within seven days of the summons, and she complied on 23 May.
What did Parambrata Chatterjee post that triggered the FIR?
According to the complainant, Chatterjee posted 'Today should be declared as a thrashing day' on 2 May 2021, the day TMC crossed the majority mark in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Swastika allegedly replied with 'Hahaha, let it be!' The complainant claims both comments amounted to incitement of political violence.
What law has been invoked in the FIR against the actors?
The FIR invokes Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with abetment of offences. The complainant argues the posts and comments encouraged violence against BJP workers in West Bengal following the 2021 election results.
Has Parambrata Chatterjee also been summoned by police?
An FIR has been registered against Parambrata Chatterjee as well, but as of 23 May, it remained unclear when he would appear before investigators. Swastika Mukherjee was the first of the two to respond to the summons.
What violence is the complaint linked to?
The complaint references widespread incidents of alleged violence against BJP workers in West Bengal following the May 2021 Assembly election results, including attacks, murders, rapes, and arson. It specifically cites the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar of Beliaghata, Kolkata, as one of the incidents from that period.
