Bengali Actor Sreelekha Mitra Faces Multiple FIRs Over Prime Minister Cartoon Controversy

Legal Action Initiated Across West Bengal

Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra is the subject of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) filed across West Bengal on July 26, 2026. The legal complaints stem from her participation in a massive demonstration held two days earlier in Kolkata. Mitra reportedly carried a poster depicting an objectionable cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the march, which moved from Sealdah station to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Keya Ghosh, a leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), initiated the first formal complaint at Kolkata’s Anandapur police station. Ghosh characterized the protest as an event marked by hooliganism and claimed that journalists, including women, faced harassment and molestation during the proceedings. Subsequent FIRs were lodged in various districts throughout the state as the controversy gained momentum on social media.

Political Fallout and Allegations of Misconduct

The rally was organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) alongside various Left-aligned student organizations. Thousands of participants joined the march to show solidarity with protesters stationed at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya criticized the demonstration on Sunday, labeling the participants anti-national for their use of specific slogans.

• Organizational Links: Bhattacharya alleged that those arrested for violence during the rally maintain direct ties to the Trinamool Congress, supported by Leftist factions.
• Slogan Controversy: The use of 'Azadi' slogans during the march was condemned by BJP leadership as an affront to national sovereignty.
• Journalistic Safety: Party officials cited physical attacks on the press as a primary reason for the legal crackdown.

A History of Public Activism

Sreelekha Mitra has maintained a reputation for challenging established power structures within the Tollygunge film industry, frequently speaking out against nepotism and political syndicates. This is not her first encounter with the legal system regarding high-profile accusations. In 2024, following the release of the Hema Committee report, Mitra filed an FIR against Malayalam director Ranjith, alleging sexual misconduct during the 2009 production of Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha.

Source: The Hindu — Cities