Suman Dey, who hosts ‘Ghanta Khanek Sange Suman’ and a senior vice-president with ABP Ananda, was booked based on a complaint filed by Sandeshkhali police Sub-Inspector Mohd Monaim Hassan on Saturday (February 17). Dey has been booked under sections 153 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.
In his complaint, Hassan stated, “It has come to my notice that during the telecast of an episode of “Ghanta Khanek Sange Suman” hosted by Suman Dey on 12.02.24, it was repeatedly mentioned that while forwarding two arrestees, Susanta Sardar alias Uttam Sardar and Bikas Singh, to the Basirhat Court in Sandeshkhail PS, police custody was not sought for the said two arrested persons.”
Hassan said the claims made by Dey during the telecast were “completely false and misleading which was circulated with intent to cause offence against public peace”. “The fact is that the Investigating Officer of the concerned case, while forwarding the two arrestees, had submitted a prayer to the Ld. Court seeking 10 days’ police custody for both the arrested accused persons,” he said.
The complainant alleged that the programme was telecast “malignantly and wantonly, which is illegal” and had caused “grave incitement to a section of people which may cause the serious offence of rioting”.
In his complaint, Hassan also alleged that it was because of “such a provocative false statements” that a mob had turned violent during a programme on February 13 organised by a political party in front of the office of Basirhat Superintendent of Police, and started brick-batting the police on duty which resulted in injuries to several personnel.
Criticising the police action, BJP leader Amit Malviya said the police action was an “attempt to stop the media from covering Sandeshkhali”. “After Republic Bangla and other channels, Mamata Banerjee Govt now files FIR against ABP Ananda’s Suman De. The desperate attempts to stop the media from covering Sandeshkhali have peaked… WB Police, instead of arresting Shahjahan Sheikh, is busy intimidating BJP leaders and media,” Malviya wrote on X.
Sandeshkhali had been on edge since February first week after violent protests by residents who accused local Trinamool Congress leaders – Shahjahan Sheikh, Uttam Sardar and Shibaprasad Hazra – of sexually harassing women and grabbing land. Last week, police had arrested Sardar and Hazra.
Sheikh has been on the run since January 5 after a mob of his supporters attacked a team of ED officials. The team had gone to Sandeshkhali to search his home in alleged connection with the ration distribution scam.