A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee over her alleged remarks on Sanatan Dharma made during an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year. The complaint claimed that the statement hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and promoted communal tension.

The complaint was filed by advocate Rinki Chatterjee Singh at the Siliguri Cyber Police Station on Tuesday. According to the complaint, Mamata Banerjee allegedly referred to Sanatan Dharma as “ganda dharma” or “dirty religion” during a public event organised on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr at Red Road in Kolkata. The complainant stated that the remark “deeply hurt the religious sentiments and beliefs of millions of followers.”

The FIR also mentioned another controversial statement allegedly made by the TMC leader during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign. According to the complaint, Mamata Banerjee allegedly warned that if a particular community attacked Hindus, “their 12 ta beje jabe,” a Bengali phrase commonly used to indicate severe consequences. The complainant argued that such remarks were provocative in nature and could create fear among voters.

In her complaint, advocate Singh alleged that the statements were intended to “influencing voters through fear and intimidation” and could lead to “social unrest and communal disharmony.” She further claimed that the remarks had the potential to create hostility between different religious communities during a politically sensitive period in the state.

Following the complaint, police registered the FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s new criminal code. The charges include Section 351(1), which deals with criminal intimidation, and Section 352, related to intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace. Authorities also added Section 353(2), which concerns the circulation of statements or information intended to promote hatred or enmity between religious groups.

The controversy had earlier triggered strong political reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In March, senior BJP leader and then Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari publicly criticised Mamata Banerjee for her alleged remarks during the Eid event.

In a post on X, Adhikari accused the TMC chief of insulting Hindu religious sentiments and using communal rhetoric for political gain. He questioned the context of her statement and alleged that her speech was aimed at appeasing one community while targeting another.

"Hum 'Ganda Dharm' ko nahi manta hai". - Mamata Banerjee Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee? Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you don't follow the 'Ganda Dharm' or 'Dirty Religion'. Which religion were you specifically referring to? Sanatan Hindu Dharma? What kind of provocative speech did you deliver at the Red Road on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr? You uttered the words 'Danga' & Riots more than you repeated the word Eid. Was it a religious event or a political programme? Why were you deliberately mongering hate with the deliberate intention of creating animosity between communities? Ms. Mamata Banerjee, you are the one who weaponises religion. It will boomerang on you very soon," the post read.

The BJP has repeatedly accused Mamata Banerjee and the TMC of using religion-based politics in West Bengal. Party leaders have often criticised the state government for allegedly trying to polarise voters ahead of elections. The latest FIR has once again intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the TMC in the state.

So far, there has been no official response from Mamata Banerjee or the TMC regarding the FIR and the allegations mentioned in the complaint. The matter is expected to draw further political attention as West Bengal continues to witness heated exchanges between rival parties over issues linked to religion and election campaigning.