Garg Chatterjee. File photo: Special edit.
‘Bangla Pokkho’ founder Garga Chatterjee was arrested by the Kolkata Police Cyber Cell on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) on charges of spreading misinformation about EVM tampering during the recently held West Bengal Assembly elections.
Bangla Pokkho is a pro-Bengali advocacy organization and Mr. Chatterjee often campaigns for Bengali and Bengali over other languages and communities in West Bengal. During the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, he urged people to vote for either the Trinamool Congress or Left Front candidates but not the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that the saffron party was a party of “outsiders”.
“A complaint was lodged against him by the District Election Officer (DEO) Kolkata North, following which the cyber cell initiated action. He was summoned twice in connection with the matter but failed to appear, hence he was arrested today,” Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand told reporters at the Lalbazar police headquarters.
This is not the first time that Mr. Chatterjee has been arrested by the Kolkata Police. He was arrested in August 2022 for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Assamese people and promoting communal enmity. The arrest was made on the orders of the Gauhati High Court after an FIR was filed against him for allegedly making inappropriate remarks against the ruler of the Ahom dynasty.
ED guardianship for ex-minister
In another development, former Trinamool Congress minister Sujit Bose, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, has been sent to ED custody for 10 days. The Central Investigation Agency alleged that Mr. Bose illegally recommended 150 candidates for various posts under the South Dum Dum Municipality in lieu of monetary benefits.
On Tuesday, the ED counsel told the special court that during the Covid-19 lockdown, the restaurant owned by Mr Bose had reported sales of around ₹1.11 crore.
Messi’s episode in the spotlight again
In another development, West Bengal’s newly appointed sports minister Nisith Pramanik said he was looking for a file related to the Lionel Messi incident in Kolkata where violence erupted due to mismanagement. Former sports minister and Trinamool Congress leader Aroop Biswas has been accused in the incident. Mr Pramanik said he would speak to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and take action if necessary.
Published – 13 May 2026 02:47 IST
