Sreelekha Mitra faces police complaints over Modi caricature at rally
Times of India | 27 July 2026
Kolkata: Actor Sreelekha Mitra is facing fresh legal trouble after multiple police complaints were filed against her for holding an offensive caricature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a student rally between Sealdah and Esplanade in Kolkata on Friday.
BJP spokesperson Keya Ghosh lodged a formal complaint at Anandapur Police Station, while additional complaints were filed at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station and across several districts on Sunday.
The BJP functionary has demanded her immediate arrest, citing provisions under the BNS 2023, including Sections 352 (provoking breach of peace), 353 (supporting provocative conduct), and 356 (defamation). Ghosh stated that while political disagreement is permissible, intentional public defamation and outrageous depictions meant to incite disharmony cannot be tolerated.
Refuting the allegations, Mitra explained that she joined the demonstration in solidarity with students protesting over the NEET examination paper leak issue. She claimed she was not wearing her prescription glasses and did not see the content on the poster.
“The police were carrying out a baton charge at that time, so my photograph was hurriedly taken. I never even turned the poster around to check what kind of image of the PM it displayed,” she said.
“I may be opposed to the BJP, but calling me an anti-national is completely ridiculous. It is equally absurd if anyone thinks that I deliberately chose to hold that poster and pose for the photograph,” she added.Kolkata: Actor Sreelekha Mitra is facing legal trouble after multiple police complaints were filed against her for holding a caricature of PM Narendra Modi that complainants described as offensive, during Friday’s rally from Sealdah to Esplanade.
BJP spokesperson Keya Ghosh lodged a complaint at Anandapur PS, while similar complaints were filed at Bidhannagar Cyber Crime PS and in several districts on Sunday. Ghosh demanded Mitra’s arrest, invoking BNS sections 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), and 356 (defamation). She said deliberate public defamation and provocative depictions intended to incite disharmony cannot be condoned.
Mitra said she had joined the demonstration in solidarity with the students. She claimed she was not wearing her prescription glasses and did not notice the content of the poster she was holding.