Kolkata Police Arrests Activist Garga Chatterjee for Posts on EVM Tampering

Kolkata: City Police's Cyber Crime cell has arrested activist Garga Chatterjee on the basis of a complaint registered by the Election Commission, for making what it has deemed were provocative and inciteful posts during the assembly election period.

The first information report alleges that Chatterjee spread misinformation on electronic voting machines or EVMs used in polls.

Chatterjee, a neuroscientist by profession, is the founder of Bangla Pokkho, a group that aims to promote Bengali culture and identity, and opposes the cultural ingress of Hindi in Bengal.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda told reporters today that the complaint had been filed by the District Election Officer (DEO) North of the ECI. Anandabazar Patrika quoted Nanda as having said, "He [Chatterjee] had claimed that EVM manipulation was taking place. His posts created misconceptions among political parties and spread confusion. He also called upon political parties to launch protests. This led to rumours spreading everywhere."

Nanda claimed that Chatterjee did not appear before police despite two notices.

It is not clear as to which specific remarks led to the complaint being filed against him.

During the just-concluded assembly elections, Chatterjee had asked why EVMs were “malfunctioning during counting despite being sealed and secured overnight.” He had also remarked that “the Election Commission had some plans for later in the day.” Chatterjee had advised voters to carefully check the VVPAT before leaving after casting their votes.

Nanda told reporters that there was another suo motu case awaiting Chatterjee, allegedly over posts "targeting various communities which were creating a sense of division." Nanda did not offer details on this case.

Chatterjee has an MBBS degree from the Kolkata Medical College and a PhD from Harvard University.

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