Bengal: Bangla Pokkho founder Garga Chatterjee gets bail

Garga Chatterjee, founder of the pro-Bengali organization Bangla Pokkho, was granted conditional bail by a Kolkata court on Friday after spending 10 days in judicial custody. The chief judicial magistrate at Bankshall Court ordered his release on furnishing a Rs 2,000 bond and directed him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation by appearing before authorities weekly. Chatterjee was arrested on May 12 by Kolkata Police’s cybercrime division following complaints over his social media posts during the West Bengal Assembly elections. The complaints, initially filed by district election officer Smita Pandey, alleged that his posts questioned the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and accused the Election Commission of a ‘secret plan’ during vote counting. Police claimed Chatterjee’s posts—including claims that EVMs could malfunction despite being secured overnight—created confusion among voters and political parties. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand stated that the posts triggered protests and distrust, though Chatterjee’s supporters argue the arrest was politically motivated. Two earlier summonses for questioning went unanswered, leading to his detention. Bangla Pokkho, founded in 2018, advocates for Bengali language and cultural rights, often criticizing state and national policies for neglecting regional interests. The organization has campaigned for Bengali language preferences in government jobs and stricter cultural protections. Supporters outside the court celebrated Chatterjee’s bail, calling it a win for democratic rights and freedom of expression. With bail granted in all pending cases, Chatterjee is expected to be released shortly. The court’s decision follows a period of legal scrutiny, with initial bail pleas rejected before Friday’s ruling.