Kolkata: A day after Governor CV Ananda Bose undertook an ‘unprecedented’ search of the Raj Bhavan premises with a joint team of Kolkata Police, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and the CRPF, a complaint was filed from the Governor’s House at Hare Street Police Station against MP Kalyan Banerjee.
It was learnt that the complaint seeks initiation of an FIR against Banerjee under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including assaulting the President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of lawful power (Section 151); acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India (Section 152); imputations or assertions prejudicial to national integration (Section 197); promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. [Sections 196(1)(a) and (b)]; and statements conducing to public mischief [Sections 353(1)(b) and (c) and 353(2)]. Some of these charges are non-bailable and carry a maximum punishment of up to seven years’ imprisonment.
Banerjee, however, downplayed the development, saying: “Submitting a letter does not necessarily mean that it is an FIR. I know law better than Bose does.” He also levelled counter-allegations, accusing the Governor of using “instigating words”.
A political storm erupted on Monday after the Governor led a live-broadcast combing operation inside Raj Bhavan, following Banerjee’s allegation that weapons and criminals were being “sheltered” on the premises.