Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty questioned by Kolkata Police over controversial election speech
The 71-year-old actor is being interrogated virtually by the police. According to allegations by police, his speech incited the violence that broke out in Bengal post-elections.
FollowActor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mithun Chakraborty was on Wednesday questioned by the Kolkata Police over a controversial speech while campaigning during West Bengal assembly polls.
This came after an FIR was registered in Maniktala for his speech. The 71-year-old actor is being interrogated virtually by the police. According to allegations by police, his speech incited the violence that broke out in Bengal post-elections.
The actor had recently filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court seeking quashing of the case filed against him, in which he had uttered popular dialogues from his films. The Court on Friday directed the actor to provide his e-mail address to the state so that he can make himself available by way of video conference for questioning.
He had reportedly made a controversial statement “maarbo ekhane lash porbe soshane” (I will hit you here and the body will fall in the crematorium) and “ek chobole chobi” (just one snakebite and you will become a photograph) during an election rally at the Brigade Parade Grounds on March 7 in presence of PM Narendra Modi.
Chakraborty claimed that the utterances of such film dialogues were only recreational and that he is innocent and in no way connected with any offence as alleged by the complainant.
The complaint alleged that these dialogues were a cause for post-poll violence in the state. He has been accused of promoting enmity between different groups, an intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and making statements conducing to public mischief.
According to reports, the Bollywood veteran actor was questioned for about 45 minutes by the officers of Kolkata Police.
On prayers by the lawyers of the petitioner and the prosecution for taking up the matter on a later date, the court fixed the matter for hearing on 18 June.
Clashes were reported from several places in the state following the declaration of assembly poll results on May 2.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said last month that at least 16 people have lost their lives in post- poll violence in the state.
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