Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra spared arrest over PM Modi’s objectionable poster

Sreelekha Mitra (Picture via X)

The Calcutta High Court has strongly condemned Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra for showcasing a poster that carried objectionable cartoon of PM Narendra Modi during the protest rally in Kolkata earlier. While they have granted the actress interim protection from coercive police action till December 24.

Calcutta HC called the poster distasteful

The matter was heard by a single-judge bench lead by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. The judge described the poster as distasteful and shared that the actress' conduct had shaken the conscience. The court further observed that such offensive content shouldn't be displayed publicly or reach social media circulation, particularly by a public figure like Sreelekha.

Justice Bhattacharya then quipped, "Such a poster was very distasteful. Why should an established person in society hold and display such a distasteful poster that shakes the conscience? It reflects bad taste. Such offensive posts should not be made on Facebook or anywhere else. After all, she is an actress."

Despite the criticism, the court directed the police not to take coercive action against Mitra until December 24. The bench noted that as many as 16 FIRs had been registered in connection with the matter and directed Anandapur Police Station to consolidate the complaints and conduct a coordinated investigation.

The actress has also been directed to fully cooperate with the investigation. The court instructed the police to provide her with at least 48 hours' notice before summoning her for questioning. It further made clear that the interim protection could be withdrawn if Mitra failed to cooperate with the investigating authorities.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for December 14, when the police have been asked to submit a progress report detailing the status of the investigation.

All about the controversy

The controversy dates back to a protest march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in July over the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak. The demonstration witnessed clashes between protesters and police in parts of central Kolkata. Mitra was reportedly seen at the rally holding a poster featuring an objectionable caricature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the incident, BJP leader Keya Ghosh lodged a complaint at Anandapur Police Station.

Several similar complaints were subsequently filed at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station and police stations in different districts of West Bengal. The complaints prompted demands from BJP leaders for the actress's immediate arrest.

Earlier in 2024, Sreelekha Mitra had filed a complaint against Malayalam director Ranjith over sexual harassment.

With inputs from IANS