Kolkata Police questions Mithun Chakraborty over controversial Bengal poll speech

KOLKATA: Mithun Chakraborty, an actor and BJP leader was questioned by Kolkata Police on Wednesday for allegedly making a controversial speech during election campaigning in Bengal.

The 71-year-old actor was virtually questioned by the Kolkata Police in connection with a charge filed against him over a speech he gave on March 7 after joining the BJP.

According to the sources, the interrogation began at 10:40 a.m. and lasted over 45 minutes.

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Chakraborty has petitioned the Calcutta High Court to have the FIR against him quashed. The court on the other hand ordered him to virtually assist with the investigation.

According to a First Information Report (FIR), the speech played in encouraging post-election violence in Bengal following Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress's landslide victory on May 2.

Chakraborty had said while speaking to a crowd at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground on March 7, “Ami joldhorao noi, bele borao noi… ami ekta cobra, ek chobol-ei chobi (Don’t mistake me for a harmless snake, I am a cobra, can kill people in one bite’).” The dialogue is from his 2006 film ‘Abhimanyu’.

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On May 6, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker filed a police complaint against Chakraborty for "instigating and provoking" BJP workers, which led to the filing of a FIR.

According to the complaint, the actor's comments such as, “Marbo Ekhane Laash Porbe Shoshane” and “Ek Chobole Chobi” (i will thrash you here. Your body will be found at the crematorium) were meant to provoke BJP workers.

Chakraborty was charged under IPC sections 153 (A) (Promoting enmity between different groups), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (with intent to incite people). The FIR has been registered at Maniktala Police Station.

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