State Govt Urged Not to Pursue Stringent Action Over Controversial Cartoon

The Calcutta High Court, sitting as a single bench, cautioned the West Bengal government against imposing any harsh penalty on actress Shreelakha Mitra for a cartoon she posted on social media. The bench issued the directive pending a final decision, extending the protection period up to December 24, 2026.

Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Mazumdar highlighted that the cartoon allegedly hurt communal feelings and made an inappropriate allusion to the Prime Minister’s private anatomy. Despite the sensitivity of the material, the judge concluded that the Indian Penal Code’s Section 353(2) was not applicable to the facts of the case.

While acknowledging that the content could be described as "obscene," the court determined that it does not constitute a criminal offence under the cited statute. Consequently, no punitive action will be taken unless the actress fails to assist the investigation.

The decision also mandates that the police issue a 48‑hour notice before questioning the actress, ensuring procedural fairness.

Anandpur police station will continue to handle the inquiry and will report any developments at the upcoming hearing.