Kolkata: An FIR has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Agnimitra Paul for allegedly threatening policemen and locking them up inside Kotwali police station on Wednesday night when Ram Navami processions were going on in West Midnapore.
Paul, a legislator from West Bengal’s Asansol South who has been fielded as the saffron party’s candidate from Midnapore for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, had gone to the police station to register a case against chief minister Mamata Banerjee for a controversial comment during an election rally in Cooch Behar district on April 15.
When police refused to entertain Paul’s complaint, BJP workers accompanying her locked the gate of the police station using a chain and a lock. Paul and the others then staged a sit-in demonstration outside the police station.
“We have registered an FIR against Paul and 15 others. Investigation is going on,” said West Midnapore SP Dhritiman Sarkar.
Paul has been booked under sections 120b (criminal conspiracy), 353 (assault or criminal force on public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.
BJP has complained to Election Commission of India (ECI) against Mamata, claiming that the CM had said: “They had the courage to say ‘chor chor’ on seeing my car… if I had the opportunity, I would have pulled their tongues out, but because of elections I did not say anything.”
A fashion designer-turned-politician, Paul insisted that her complaint against the CM be received.
“Don’t take us for granted… You are not favouring us… You are doing your job. Receive the FIR. I am a woman and an MLA. I am lodging a complaint,” she was heard telling the duty officer of Kotwali police station in a video which went viral.
Watch the video of the incident telecast on ABP Ananda and shared on X:
Our Fire Brand Lady Leader MLA Agnimitra Paul, MP candidate of Medinipur #Vote4BJP Vote For BJP
Vote For Sm Agnimitra Paul pic.twitter.com/QQ46u2hz6z— Gargi Mukherjee ( Modi Ka Parivar) (@gargiMu48960835) April 17, 2024
Explaining their side of the story, a police officer said that the duty officer told Paul that the inspector-in-charge (IC) was the competent authority to register an FIR.
“The IC was in the field at that time. We have CCTV footages and video clippings of the incident at the police station. They had brought chains and lock which hints that it was pre-planned. The police were locked up when Ram Navami processions were being held. We are looking into all aspects including the conspiracy angle,” said a police officer.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) slammed Paul’s behaviour.
“The chief minister addressed a rally Cooch Behar two days back. Paul, however, chose Kotwali police station in West Midnapore to lodge a complaint. She went to stage a drama and had come prepared,” said TMC MLA Ajit Maity.
