An FIR has been registered against former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri for alleged criminal intimidation and hurting religious sentiments for her remarks in the Assembly poll campaign in North Bengal earlier this year.

The cybercrime unit registered the FIR on May 15 on a complaint lodged by local lawyer Rinki Chatterjee Singh.

Singh, in her complaint to the police station, alleged that the TMC supremo insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus by calling Sanatan Dharma “ganda dharma” (dirty dharma).

The lawyer also alleged that while campaigning for elections, she said that if a particular community attacked Hindus, “their 12 ta beje jabe,” implying that Hindus would face severe consequences. “Such remarks created fear among members of the Hindu community and promoted social unrest, religious provocation, and communal disharmony with the intention of influencing voters through fear and intimidation,” the complaint read.

The FIR has been registered under sections of 351 (1), 352, and 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

While section 351 (1) pertains to the offence of criminal intimidation, section 352 deals with the offence of “intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace”.

Section 353(2) is a criminal law provision that penalizes the circulation of rumors, false information, or alarming news intended to promote hatred, enmity, or ill-will between different religious, racial, or linguistic groups.

“For the past several years, many leaders holding high positions in the ruling political party have allegedly made insulting and derogatory remarks against the Hindu religion and Sanatan Dharma. However, the former chief minister also made statements which, according to us, deeply hurt the religious sentiments and beliefs of millions of followers of Sanatan Dharma across India and the world,” the complainant wrote.

Despite related calls and messages, the complainant could not be reached. Senior police officers were also not reachable for comments.