Kolkata Court Places Bangla Pokkho Leader Garga Chatterjee in Police Custody for Spreading EVM Misinformation

A Kolkata court has ordered that Garga Chatterjee, the chief of the pro-Bengali advocacy group Bangla Pokkho, be remanded to three days of police custody. This decision was made on Wednesday, May 13, following his arrest by the Kolkata Police for allegedly disseminating false information regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the lead-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Chatterjee’s arrest took place on Tuesday, initiated by the cybercrime division of the Kolkata Police after a formal complaint was lodged by an official from the Election Commission. According to reports, this complaint formed the basis for the first information report (FIR) that was filed at the Maidan Police Station. An additional FIR was registered by the cybercrime division, which acted by taking cognizance of the matter independently.

Police Commissioner Ajay Nand stated that Chatterjee had allegedly posted content on social media that claimed EVMs were vulnerable to tampering and raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Nand emphasized that these statements could lead to confusion among political parties and the public, potentially undermining the electoral framework of the state. The allegations surfaced on April 23, coinciding with the first phase of the assembly elections.

Prior to his arrest, the police had issued two notices demanding Chatterjee’s presence for questioning. However, he reportedly failed to comply with these requests, prompting law enforcement to take action. The police commissioner highlighted that Chatterjee’s assertions regarding the EVMs could significantly impact public perception and trust in the electoral system.

The incident has sparked discussions about the role of social media in elections and the responsibilities of individuals and organizations in ensuring accurate information dissemination. As the political landscape in West Bengal continues to evolve, the impact of misinformation on public opinion and electoral integrity remains a pressing concern.

Source: scroll.in