The founder of ‘Bangla Paksha,’ Garga Chatterjee, had his bail plea rejected on Wednesday, leading to his detention in police custody until May 16. Kolkata Police took him into custody after a complaint was filed at the Maidan Cyber Police Station, followed by another arrest by the Cyber Cell of Kolkata Police. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand mentioned that Chatterjee had disregarded two summonses.
Allegedly, Chatterjee’s remarks on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the recent Assembly elections were deemed as violations of the Model Code of Conduct and cyber laws. The City Sessions Court ordered his detention at the Maidan Police Station until May 16, with the case involving the Cyber Cell arrest to be addressed later. Garga Chatterjee made a statement outside the Bankshall Court, asserting that speaking the truth as a Bengali should not be considered a crime.
Accusations against Chatterjee included making inflammatory statements during the elections and spreading misinformation about EVMs, leading to doubts about the democratic process. The Election Commission viewed his actions as an intentional effort to erode public trust in the electoral system. Police initiated action based on a complaint from the Election Commission to the cyber crime department of Kolkata Police.
In the context of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Garga Chatterjee raised concerns about alleged EVM malfunctions during vote counting despite proper sealing. He also advised voters to verify Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines before casting their votes. Additionally, ‘Bangla Paksha’ accused the Election Commission of denying permission for a pre-election rally.
