Kolkata: Kolkata Police has summoned former MP-mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya to two separate police stations following complaints against his social media post, describing attackers who targeted his residence as “Hindutva goons”.Notices issued on Sunday directed the CPM veteran to appear at the Garfa Police Station on Oct 13 and Kasba Police Station on Oct 14 for questioning.Around 5 am last Thursday, a group of miscreants attacked Bhattacharya’s home. According to allegations, liquor bottles were hurled at the property, shattering windowpanes, while the senior lawyer was subjected to obscene verbal abuse. Police subsequently arrested an app-bike rider, Bappa Guchhait (29). Following the attack, Bhattacharya posted on social media, blaming “Hindutvawadis” for orchestrating the attack, prompting a confrontation with chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, who gave him a 24-hour deadline to edit the post and warned of legal consequences. When Bhattacharya refused to alter his post, complaints were lodged against him at both Garfa and Kasba police stations.The notice issued by the Garfa PS investigating officer reads: “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 35 of the BNSS, I hereby inform you that during the investigation of Garfa PS Case number – 215 dated Oct 8, under sections 299/196(a) (1) BNS and 67 of IT Act, 2000, registered at Garfa PS, Kolkata Police, it has been revealed that there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain facts and circumstances from you, in relation to the present investigation. Hence you are directed to be before me on Oct 13 at office hours at Garfa PS.”Bhattacharya said he would take legal recourse. “I have not received any official summons yet. They can file as many FIRs as they want. I will fight them under due process of law,” he said.Earlier last Friday, CM Adhikari clarified the state’s position and pointed at political affiliations behind the violence. “We have taken the attack on Bhattacharya’s residence seriously and I directed the Kolkata Police to identify and arrest those involved. Police have arrested Bappa Guchhait, son of Sushanta Guchhait, within 24 hours of the incident. The person is a Trinamool worker and has photographs with party members,” he had said. The CM reportedly took “strong exception” to the terminology used in Bhattacharya’s post. He had warned: “We have done our job. We have arrested the person who attacked his residence and taken action on his written complaint. But he is also not above the law.”Investigating officers confirmed that questionings would focus on the social media content and its potential to breach public peace under provisions of the BNS and IT Act.
