Kolkata: Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has landed in fresh controversy after an FIR was filed against her at the Siliguri Cyber Police Station over remarks allegedly made during an Eid gathering in Kolkata in March 2025. The complaint accuses Banerjee of insulting Sanatan Dharma and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus through a statement that referred to a “dirty religion.”
The controversy erupted after portions of Banerjee’s speech from the Eid event resurfaced online and began circulating widely on social media platforms. According to the complaint, the TMC chief allegedly stated: “We believe in the religion of Rama, Krishna, and Swami Vivekananda, but we do not believe in the dirty religion deliberately created by the Jumla Party. It is against Hinduism.”
The statement has triggered outrage among several Hindu organizations, political groups, and social media users, many of whom accused the senior leader of disrespecting Hindu beliefs while attempting to make a political attack against her rivals.
The FIR was lodged by lawyer Rinki Chatterjee Singh, who claimed that the remarks deeply hurt religious sentiments and could potentially disturb communal harmony. Singh alleged that she had earlier attempted to file a complaint in 2025 itself but was ignored and allegedly harassed instead of receiving cooperation from authorities.
According to the complaint, Banerjee’s remarks amount to intentional insult and promotion of enmity between religious communities. Police have reportedly registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to criminal intimidation, intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace, and spreading information aimed at promoting hatred between religious groups.
Authorities have stated that further legal action will depend on the findings of the investigation.
So far, Mamata Banerjee has not issued any direct public clarification regarding the FIR or the controversy surrounding the statement. However, some leaders within the TMC attempted damage control after the issue gained traction online.
TMC Darjeeling unit general secretary and lawyer Atri Sharma dismissed the allegations and claimed the statement was being misrepresented. He also said individuals are free to pursue legal remedies if they feel offended. Despite these attempts, the controversy has continued to intensify, particularly among opposition supporters and religious groups demanding accountability.
The episode comes at a politically sensitive time for the Trinamool Congress, which has already been facing internal unrest and mounting criticism following its defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
Political speculation further increased after TMC MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha met Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose in the presence of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The meeting triggered rumours of dissatisfaction within the party ranks. Reports suggest several leaders have recently questioned the party’s election campaign strategy and candidate selection process following the electoral setback.
Although both MLAs later described the interaction as a “casual meeting,” political observers believe the developments point toward growing unease inside the TMC.
At the same time, pressure has also mounted on the Banerjee family over separate administrative and legal controversies. On May 25, a special team of Kolkata Police visited the residence of TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee after a notice regarding alleged illegal construction was issued by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Sources claimed that authorities were examining portions of the property that were allegedly built without proper approval and that demolition orders had been discussed. Abhishek Banerjee reportedly requested 14 days’ time in response to the notice, though officials have not publicly clarified the exact nature of the alleged violations.
The developments followed a series of actions targeting structures linked to the TMC. Earlier this month, civic authorities demolished a TMC office and a clock tower that local residents had long claimed were illegally constructed on encroached land. A court order for demolition had reportedly existed since 2025, but action was only taken recently after the election results.
