Case registered at Siliguri court against Srijato

Srijato 

MP | 22 March 2017 | Kolkata: A case has been registered at Siliguri court against well-known Bengali poet and littérateur Srijato on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, Hindu Sanghati, a non-political organisation, had lodged an FIR against him for "hurting religious sentiment". 

Arnab Sarkar, one of the members of the group, lodged an FIR against Srijato with the Cyber Crime cell of the police. Following this, a case was filed by Abhijit Saha, the investigating officer of the Cyber Crime police station, at the court under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the Cyber Crime Act. 

The public prosecutor Sudip Basunia informed that Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code is non-bailable.

"The accused can be sentenced to three years imprisonment if he is proven guilty," Basunia said. The complainant Arnab Sarkar alleged that the poet hurt the feelings and sentiments of Hindus. 

There is a possibility that the Cyber Crime police station might send a notice under Section 41 to the poet. However, Srijato can appeal for an anticipatory bail if that action is taken. 

Srijato had posted a poem called Abhishap on Facebook on Monday. 

The complainant alleged that through the poem, he tried to propagate religious hatred. The poet, however, alleged that "it was an attack on freedom of speech."