FIR filed against Mamata Banerjee over ‘ganda dharma’ remark for alleged insult to Sanatan Dharma
The Statesman | 28 May 2026
A fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after an FIR was registered against TMC Chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged remarks linked to Sanatan Dharma made during an Eid gathering in Kolkata last year. The complainant accuses TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of using the phrase “ganda dharma” during a public address, alleging that the remark insulted the beliefs and sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma.
The FIR was lodged at the Siliguri Cyber Police Station by advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh, who alleged that the remarks promoted communal tension and offended religious sentiments.
According to the complaint, the remarks were not only offensive in nature but were also capable of disturbing communal harmony in the state. Chatterjee further added that initially her FIR wasn’t even accepted at the cyber branch. She said, “When she was the Chief Minister, she attended Eid prayers at Red Road, wearing a hijab, and later made remarks about Hinduism as a ‘dirty religion.’ When I went to file an FIR at the cyber branch, it was not accepted. I faced physical and mental harassment, and my complaint was delayed for days without being registered…”
She also stressed that, as an activist and a Hindu, she felt at risk and feared attacks. She said, “Later, before the 2026 Assembly elections, further statements were made at Dharmatala, threatening Hindu voters. I felt personally at risk, both as a Hindu and as an activist, and feared attacks. I lodged complaints under several sections of the BNS, citing provocation, incitement to violence, and insult to religion. Initially, police refused to act, but later my complaint was received and sections applied. I believe freedom of speech has boundaries…”
Police registered the case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges linked to criminal intimidation, intentional insult aimed at provoking breach of peace, and dissemination of statements allegedly capable of creating hostility between religious communities.
The complaint further referred to statements allegedly made by Mamata Banerjee during the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election campaign.
Advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh alleged that the former Chief Minister made provocative comments suggesting severe consequences if members of a particular community targeted Hindus. The complaint claimed such statements were intended to generate fear among voters and deepen social divisions during the politically sensitive election period.
The issue had earlier triggered sharp criticism from Senior BJP leader and the then Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, who accused Mamata Banerjee of insulting Hindu religious beliefs during her Eid-ul-Fitr address at Red Road.
In a strongly worded reaction posted on X, Suvendu Adhikari questioned whom Mamata Banerjee was referring to while allegedly mentioning “Ganda Dharm”. He accused the TMC chairperson of using divisive language and turning a religious gathering into a political platform.
Suvendu Adhikari also alleged that the speech focused excessively on references to riots and communal tensions instead of the religious occasion itself, accusing the former Chief Minister of attempting to polarise communities for political gains.