Tag: Saayoni Ghosh

  • BJP trying to throttle democracy in Tripura, will put an end to misrule: Abhishek Banerjee

    By PTI

    AGARTALA: TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday claimed that the ruling BJP in Tripura was trying to “throttle” the voice of its opposition leaders as the party has no regard for democratic values.

    He arrived here on Monday morning, a day after the party’s youth leader, Saayoni Ghosh, was arrested for allegedly disrupting a meeting that was being held by Chief Minister Biplab Deb.

    Banerjee’s scheduled rally in the state was, however, cancelled as the police denied permission, citing “law and order problems and political tension”.

    Addressing a press conference, the senior TMC leader asserted that the TMC will defeat the BJP and put an end to the saffron camp’s “misrule” in the next assembly elections.

    “The BJP in Tripura is making a mockery of democracy. Now that we have entered the state, we will ensure BJP’s defeat. The reasons shown by the police to cancel my rally proves that there exists no rule of law in the state,” he told a press conference.

    Hitting out at the administration in Tripura over Ghosh’s arrest, Banerjee said the TMC youth leader was held on charges of criminal intimidation and attempt to murder, but it was “unclear who did she try to intimidate or kill”.

    “Biplab Deb is so scared that he tried to falsely implicate a woman. Police could not give a reply when asked who Sayoni attempted to intimidate or kill,” he quipped.

    “You are chanting the slogan — ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ — and then attacking our women candidates. There is a deliberate attempt to throttle the voice of opposition parties,” he stated.

    Ghosh was on Monday granted bail by the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), West Tripura district.

    She was arrested after raising ‘khela hobe’ (game will be played) slogan on Sunday to allegedly “disrupt” a street-corner meeting being held by Chief Minister Biplab Deb.

    Some people accompanying her had apparently hurled stones at those attending the meet, according to police sources.

    Several TMC supporters who had gathered outside the police station, where Ghosh was taken to after arrest, also reportedly came under attack on Sunday.

    Dubbing the “double engine government” as the “government of double thief”, Banerjee said, “The way the BJP goons attacked our supporters and activists at a police station only go on to show that a jungle rule prevails in the state. The ruling BJP in Tripura is using its police for narrow political gains, but this would not last long. We will fight them. The government led by Biplab Deb will not be able to silence the TMC.”

    He alleged that the Biplab Deb government has defied a Supreme Court order that asked Tripura to ensure free and fair local elections in the state.

    “This government has no respect for the judiciarya nd do not care for Supreme Court or high court orders. Nobody is secure in the state. Lawyers are not safe in court, doctors are not safe in hospital, and patients are also being attacked,” he said.

    The Supreme Court has recently asked the Tripura government to ensure that no political party in the fray for the coming local body elections “is prevented from pursuing its electoral rights in accordance with law and from campaigning in a peaceful and orderly manner”.

    Earlier in the day, shortly before Banerjee’s arrival here, an unattended bag at the Agartala airport had triggered a bomb scare.

    The bag was later moved to a cooling pit, with Bomb Threat Assessment Committee having declared it as a “non-specific threat”.

  • Tripura court grants bail to TMC leader as police charges lack substance

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: A Tripura court on Monday granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth leader and actress Saayoni Ghosh after observing that the charges levelled against her by the police had no substance.

    She was booked on Sunday under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

    Following the hearing, the West District and Sessions Court said there was nothing on record that the act of the accused was to promote any ill-will or hatred between two groups to prima facie make out an offence under section 153A of IPC.

    “On close reading of the forwarding report and the case diary, the following comments ‘kill them, cancel the Mukhya Mantri Sabha, Khela Hobe’, even if the allegation of killing them as said by the accused is true and correct, such words appear to be irresponsible comments,” the court said.

    The term Khela Hobe is a slogan/phrase/catchphrase of the TMC and uttering such words is a part of the political campaign when the municipal election is in process, it said.

    “I agree that…in order to determine an offence under section 307 of IPC, injury cannot be the sole criteria. However in the given case intention or knowledge of causing death is not made out. The alleged act of the accused of causing death with an intention or knowledge does not prima facie point out any evidence against the accused Saayoni Ghosh,” the court said.

    ALSO READ | TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Tripura for civic poll campaign; protests in Bengal over Saayoni Ghosh’s arrest

    Saayoni’s lawyer Sankar Lodh said the court granted bail on a surety of Rs 20,000. The court said the actress, who was released, will have to appear before the investigating officer if called.

    “Our submission was that there were no ingredients of offence for the non-bailable sections of 307 and 153A to be slapped against her. The court accepted our submission,” advocate Lodh said.

    He said during the hearing, the prosecution had failed to place any medical report of injury when the court asked for it.

    “The court asked the prosecution if it collected any medical report. The prosecution said the case is at a very early stage. Treatment is going on,” the advocate said.

    The TMC was jubilant. The Tripura police stand exposed to some extent, party leader and MP, Sushmita Dev said.

    On Sunday, Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban) of West Tripura district, B Jagadeswar Reddy had told journalists: “She (Saayoni) was arrested based on a complaint. The allegation against her is that she is trying to promote enmity between groups of people. We also got preliminary evidence of an attempt to murder. It is related to driving (in Agartala), so we arrested her.”

    But he did neither elaborate the criminal conspiracy nor the case of an attempt to murder. He did not mention the name of the complainant either. The police officer had said efforts were being made to arrest four others who were travelling in a car along with Saayoni.

    The TMC claimed the actress was targeted for saying “Khela Hobe”.

    “She was in a car (in Agartala) and addressing her, a person said ‘didi, Khela Hobe. She replied yes, Khela Hobe. This is the reason why she was arrested,” TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said.

    Saayoni apparently made the comment at a place close to the venue of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s meeting.

    Ghosh attributed the arrest of the actress and attacks at a police station besides at the residence of party’s Tripura leader Subal Bhowmik, allegedly by ruling BJP “goons”, to the party’s fear about defeat in the November 25 civic elections.

    TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who reached Agartala on Monday morning, echoed Ghosh.

    “Saayoni was arrested because she said Khela Hobe. PM Narendra Modi and his ministers also shouted this slogan in Bengal. So, should they be not arrested then?” Banerjee argued.

    He said the TMC had filed over 100 FIRs against elements following attacks on its workers but none was even called to police station and questioned, let alone arrest them.

    “After the TMC’s entry into Tripura, they (BJP) got rattled. I challenge Biplab babu (Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb), that if you keep taking away people’s democratic rights, I will defeat you in the Supreme Court. I will drag you (to the court). If I fail to do so, my name is not Abhishek Banerjee,” the TMC leader said.

    He said the TMC was submitting the video evidence of the attacks in Tripura on its workers to the Supreme Court. He alleged the BJP had unleashed a reign of terror in the state and was sparing none.

    “Journalists, advocates, patients in hospitals, doctors and policemen are all being attacked. There is no law and order. If you (CM) are so angry with me, blow up my car. Why are you attacking people?” Banerjee said.

    He said the police denied permission to him for his roadshow in Agartala on Monday on the grounds of “political tension and the breakdown of law and order”.

    The TMC alleged the attack at the East Agartala Women Police Station on Sunday was carried out by BJP “goons”. The incident occurred while Saayoni was being interrogated. Several people, including journalists from Tripura and West Bengal, were injured.

  • ‘Fascist terror of BJP’: CPM slams Tripura government over Trinamool leader’s arrest

    By PTI

    AGARTALA: The CPI(M) on Sunday condemned the arrest of Trinamool Congress leader Saayoni Ghosh and the alleged attack on TMC members outside a police station in Tripura.

    In a statement, the CPI(M) said that as the date for the civic body polls is drawing near, the “fascist terror” of the BJP is increasing.

    “Leaders and candidates of all parties, including the Left parties, were attacked several times and despite complaints, police did not arrest the culprits. Police are playing the role of silent spectators,” the statement, issued by the CPI(M) state secretariat, said.

    The CPI(M) vehemently condemns the incident, it added.

    The CPI(M) and TMC are arch-rivals in West Bengal where Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, ending 34 years of Left rule.

    Tripura Police arrested Ghosh on charges of attempt to murder after she allegedly disrupted a meeting of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, shouting “Khela hobe” on Saturday night.

    TMC leaders also alleged that their workers were roughed up by BJP supporters outside the East Agartala Women’s police station, a charge denied by the ruling party.

  • TMC leader Saayoni Ghosh arrested in Tripura on charges of attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Just days ahead of civic polls in Tripura, Bengali actress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth leader Saayoni Ghosh was arrested by Tripura Police on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

    She was booked under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 120B (criminal conspiracy).

    The incident unfolded on the eve of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s roadshow in Tripura capital Agartala. He is scheduled to reach the state on Sunday night. Several TMC leaders, including Kunal Ghosh and Sushmita Dev, are in the Tripura capital for poll campaign.

    The police said Saayoni was arrested based on a complaint and claimed that they found preliminary evidence against her after recording the statements of witnesses. The actress will be produced in a court on Monday.

    “The allegation against her is that she is trying to promote enmity between groups of people. We also got preliminary evidence of attempt to murder. It is related to driving (in Agartala), so we arrested her,” Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban) of West Tripura district, B Jagadeswar Reddy told journalists but did neither elaborate the criminal conspiracy nor the case of attempt to murder.

    “There were four other people (including the driver) in the car. We have got their details. We are trying to arrest them,” he added.

    The TMC alleged BJP goons had attacked a police station where Saayoni was being interrogated earlier in the day. Kunal Ghosh and other TMC leaders were at the police station then. Ghosh said the attack and the actress’s arrest were pre-planned to spoil Banerjee’s roadshow.

    .@BjpBiplab has become so UNABASHEDLY BRAZEN that now even SUPREME COURT ORDERS DOESN’T SEEM TO BOTHER HIM.He has repeatedly sent goons to attack our supporters & our female candidates instead of ensuring their safety! DEMOCRACY BEING MOCKED under @BJP4Tripura. #NotMyINDIA pic.twitter.com/E9JA4HgTf9
    — Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) November 21, 2021
    “The officer-in-charge of the police station had visited the hotel where Saayoni is staying and asked her to report to the police station for questioning. We had asked for the reasons. We said no notice was served on her. The officer could not give any answer,” Ghosh said.

    He said despite the BJP “goons” carrying out the attack with bricks, sticks and rods, none of them were arrested.

    “The police levelled some baseless and imaginary charges against her. The BJP is going to lose the civic polls and that’s why, they are doing all these things,” Ghosh said.

    He said the TMC could not move for bail as the actress was not produced in court.

    “The police have been instructed not to produce her in the court. They also know what is happening is not right. They got beaten up by the BJP goons but they cannot do anything,” he added.

    TMC’s state leader Subal Bhowmik said four to five party workers and some cops were injured and his car was damaged in the attack. He said a stone pelted by the assailants hit him on the back.

    The municipal elections will be held on November 25.

  • BJP leader Tathagata Roy files complaint against actor for ‘hurting sentiments’ through meme

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Senior BJP leader and former Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy has filed a police complaint against Bengali actress Saayoni Ghosh for a meme shared on Twitter, alleging that it hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

    Ghosh, however, claimed the meme dates back to February 2015, and was not posted by her, but an act of mischief by someone who hacked her account then.

    “You have thus committed an offence under Section 295A IPC. Now, be prepared for the consequences,” Roy said on Twitter.

    “@sayani06, you have already been reported to Kolkata Police. The complaint is attached. Meanwhile, a person from Guwahati has told me that his religious feelings have been hurt by your meme and he is filing a complaint. I hope Assam Police will take cognizance and ask for remand,” he added.

    The veteran BJP leader also said another person from Bengaluru has complained to the police about the matter.

    The young actress, in her reply tweeted: “Dear all, a post from 2015 has been brought to my notice which is extremely obnoxious. for all your information, I have joined Twitter in 2010 and after a brief use I lost interest in carrying forward. However, the account remained.”

    Ghosh said she later discovered that her account had been hacked and she needed to retrieve it immediately.

    “For various reasons, we could only do that after 2017 and I got back in touch with the Twitter world with a bang. We have skipped a few unnecessary posts while deleting most,” she said.

    Roy had also taken exception to a recent comment by Ghosh over the chant of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ by motor cycle-borne youths.