'Disclose your identity': Kolkata Police's summon to a meme creator on Mamata sparks controversy

A meme mocking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sparked controversy, leading to a strong response from the Kolkata Police. The police have demanded the identity of the meme's creator, warning of legal action if the information is not disclosed.

Kolkata Police's Response
In a post on social media, the Kolkata Police directed the meme maker to reveal their identity, including name and residence. Failure to comply could result in legal action under section 42 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).


"You are directed to immediately disclose your identity including name and residence. If the information sought is not revealed, you shall be liable for legal action u/s 42 CrPC," read a post from the Kolkata Police responding to the tweet. But according to some users, the tweet has now been deleted.

Kolkata Police's History of Crackdowns
The recent demand by the Kolkata Police for the identity of a meme maker mocking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not an isolated incident. The police have a history of cracking down on tweets and memes deemed derogatory towards the Chief Minister.

2022: Arrest of a YouTuber
In 2022, a 29-year-old YouTuber from Nadia district was arrested for allegedly creating memes on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The police, citing the memes as "derogatory", stated that the complaint also named seven other content creators.

2019: Arrest of a BJP Youth Wing Member
In 2019, a member of the BJP youth wing was arrested for posting a morphed photo of Ms. Banerjee on Facebook. This incident highlighted the strict actions taken by the police against those who post objectionable content about the Chief Minister on social media platforms.

2012: Arrest of a Professor
The crackdown on objectionable social media content targeting Mamata Banerjee began in 2012. A professor from Kolkata's premier Jadavpur University, Ambikesh Mahapatra, was arrested for allegedly forwarding an email containing a cartoon of Ms. Banerjee. This incident marked the beginning of a series of arrests and legal actions against individuals posting content deemed offensive towards the Chief Minister.

Context of the Meme
The meme controversy comes amidst a fierce political battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP over West Bengal's parliamentary seats. The conflict has escalated on social media, with supporters of both parties engaging in a war of words as the seven-phase election unfolds.