The arrest of Kolkata-based social media influencer Shamik Adhikary for allegedly forcibly detaining and assaulting a woman sparked a political confrontation in West Bengal amid allegations of criminal violence and political vendetta.
Adhikary, widely known by his handle “YourNonsane,” was taken into custody by the police following a complaint from a 22-year-old woman who alleged she was forcibly confined in his house for nearly 20 hours and subjected to physical assault on February 2.
“Accused Shamik Adhikary has been arrested in connection with a case registered at a police station,” an officer said Thursday night.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed the arrest as a targeted strike by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to silence a critical digital voice.
“This is the video of ‘YourNonsanee’ that rattled the Trinamool Congress so deeply that it unleashed the entire police machinery against him. The Trinamool Congress is running the most authoritarian and dictatorial regime Bengal has witnessed to date,” Malviya said in a post on X.
“Today, the people of Bengal live in fear, knowing that speaking out against Mamata Banerjee invites FIRs, harassment, and false cases. The video by Shamik Adhikari, which echoed the voice, pain, and anger of Bengal, must be shared widely. Let Mamata Banerjee know that West Bengal won’t be silenced,” Malviya added.
The TMC dismissed these claims of political persecution, framing the BJP’s defence of Adhikary as an endorsement of violence against women. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh took to social media to call out the Opposition’s narrative, accusing Malviya of victim-shaming by questioning the timeline of the woman’s complaint.
“Amit Malviya has defended the content creator. He said the girl is lying as no one heard of the incident and why didn’t she speak earlier? The incident happened on 2nd Feb night when she was locked for 12 hours. She filed a complaint and FIR was registered on 4th,” read a post by TMC Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
The woman, who filed the complaint, alleged that she was invited to Adhikary’s residence, where she was then forcibly confined for nearly 20 hours. During this period, the woman claimed she was subjected to physical assault.
Following her release, she approached authorities, and a formal FIR was registered on February 4. Based on the statement and initial evidence, the Kolkata police arrested Adhikary from his home in South Kolkata.
Adhikary rose to fame primarily through satire, observational comedy, and commentary on social and political issues in West Bengal. Operating since 2016, he built a significant following on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, often positioning himself as a voice for the youth of Bengal.