Ambikesh Mahapatra, a professor at Jadavpur University, criticized Mamata Banerjee, alleging that she promotes hooliganism and exerts excessive control over institutions in West Bengal. Mahapatra faced legal action in 2012 for sharing a cartoon mocking Mamata Banerjee’s decisions. The Trinamool Congress government charged him under Section 66A of the IT Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Mahapatra claimed that the police, lower courts, and the ruling establishment colluded against him during the legal proceedings. He highlighted that the Supreme Court later deemed Section 66A unconstitutional, but his case persisted until 2023. Despite the prolonged legal battle, an Alipore District Court acquitted Mahapatra in January 2023, ending an 11-year ordeal.
Accusing the ruling party of suppressing dissent, Mahapatra emphasized a broader assault on democratic freedoms. He criticized Mamata Banerjee for allegedly orchestrating arrests to stifle opposition voices during her tenure. Mahapatra also accused Banerjee of authoritarian rule within her party and the state administration.
