Odissi exponent Dona Ganguly, wife of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, has filed a police complaint in Kolkata after she was allegedly subjected to a barrage of obscene, abusive and shaming comments on social media. Kolkata Police confirmed that a formal case has been registered and that the Cyber Cell is now investigating the origin of the posts that targeted the dancer following her performance at the Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) earlier this month.
What does Don Ganguly state in his complaint?
Dona approached the Thakurpukur police station on Wednesday evening and said that derogatory remarks about her appearance and weight were repeatedly uploaded on the Facebook page. According to the complaint, the site posted several images taken from her performance at KIFF – a recital of a song composed and written by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – and accompanied them with profanity and obscene comments.
She told police that she had been a professional Odissi dancer for four-and-a-half decades, performing across India and internationally, and that the recent comments had “damaged her dignity and reputation”. Dona also submitted screenshots and a mobile number allegedly linked to the Facebook page as evidence.
How did the Calcutta police respond?
The Kolkata Police confirmed receiving the complaint and registering a case against unknown persons. Officials said the matter has been referred to the Cyber Cell, which is now working to identify the individual – or individuals – behind the Facebook page.
Sources said investigators are probing whether the accused acted alone or as part of a wider network involved in online harassment. Police are expected to question the account holders linked to the mobile number provided by Dona.
Has this already happened with Dona Ganguly?
This is not the first time that Dona Ganguly has approached the law enforcement agencies over digital harassment.
In 2021, she reported a fake Facebook profile that used personal photos of her, Sourav Ganguly and their daughter Sana.
In 2022, she filed another complaint after her Facebook account and linked email were allegedly hacked.
In March 2025, she filed a lawsuit against a YouTuber who identified herself as a neighbor and posted videos with defamatory allegations against the Gangula family.
The latest incident adds to a pattern of targeted online abuse and has prompted renewed calls for tougher measures against cyber-harassment.
Why did trolling increase after the Kolkata Film Festival?
According to the police complaint, the harassment followed Dona’s performance at KIFF 2025, which was held between November 6 and 13. Her recital, accompanied by her ensemble, appears to have sparked constant trolling on social media, with one particular Facebook page repeatedly posting “non-stop inappropriate remarks”, including gender-based slurs and body-shaming comments.
Kolkata police say the investigation is likely to widen if links to other accounts or coordinated trolling mechanisms emerge.
