Mithun Chakraborty questioned by cops over poll speech

The actor-turned-BJP leader has been booked under laws which deal with instigation and criminal conspiracy

Mithun Chakraborty: Telegraph picture

Special Correspondent   |  TT  | Maniktala   | 17.06.21: Actor-turned-BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty was questioned by police through video-conferencing on Wednesday in connection with a complaint that his speech had triggered violence in the state after the results of the Assembly elections had been declared on May 2.

The elderly actor, who was among the BJP’s star campaigners in the elections, was questioned virtually for over 45 minutes by senior officers of the Manicktala police station and the eastern suburban division. The complaint was lodged at the Manicktala police station.

A senior cop said: “According to the complaint registered with us, his speech after joining the BJP had caused widespread instigation in encouraging violence based on electoral divides.”

The police case involves a line from his 2006 film MLA Fatakeshto: “Marbo ekhaney...lash porbay shoshaney (I will beat you here. Your body will be found at the crematorium.)”

In the speech that was wildly cheered, he had also uttered the lines: “Ami joldhorao noi, bele borao noi... ami ekta cobra, ek chobol-ei chhobi (I am not any harmless snake, I am a cobra, one strike and you become a picture.” 

Mithun had moved Calcutta High Court to get the FIR quashed. The court, however, directed an investigation officer to question the actor virtually.

The actor has pleaded that he had only recited film dialogues in his speech and those were not meant to be literal.

Chakraborty has been booked under laws which deal with instigation and criminal conspiracy.

The police said, if needed, he would be questioned again.