Archive · 2 Sep 2026
TMC Alleges Police Misuse and Denial of Legal Notices
TMC leader Sagarika Ghose says police in West Bengal are treating her party unfairly.
She says people accused of crimes should be able to read the FIR, or first police report, online.
She also says police must give certain accused people a formal notice before taking further action.
According to Ghose, these rules are not always being followed.
She claims some older cases from 2018 and 2019 are being brought back against TMC workers.
She also spoke about TMC leader Derek O'Brien's questioning by police in Kolkata.
Ghose said he was pushed and then faced a complaint.
The TMC says it will challenge what it calls political intimidation and violations of rights.
TMC leader Sagarika Ghose alleged that West Bengal police are targeting party leaders and activists.
Ghose said authorities were not uploading legible FIRs online as directed by the Supreme Court.
She alleged that mandatory notices were not being served in cases punishable by less than seven years.
Ghose claimed complaints involving incidents from 2018 and 2019 were being revived against TMC activists.
She said Derek O'Brien was pushed during police questioning and that TMC would challenge the alleged misuse.
- Who
- Sagarika Ghose and the Trinamool Congress alleged that West Bengal police were being misused against TMC leaders and activists.
- What
- Ghose alleged that FIRs were not being uploaded online, mandatory notices were not being served, and older cases were being revived.
- When
- The allegations were made on Wednesday; the article also refers to cases dating from 2018 and 2019.
- Where
- The allegations concerned West Bengal, including police questioning in Kolkata, and were presented at a press conference.
- Why
- Ghose said the alleged actions amounted to political intimidation, a violation of human rights, and attacks on constitutional law and order.
- Speaker
- Sagarika Ghose, TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader
- Main allegation
- Police were allegedly being used to target TMC leaders and activists in West Bengal.
- FIR issue
- Ghose said FIRs were not being uploaded online in a clearly legible form.
- Notice requirement
- She cited the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita requirement for notices in cases carrying punishment of less than seven years.
- Older cases
- Ghose alleged that complaints linked to incidents from 2018 and 2019 were being revived.
- Derek O'Brien
- Ghose claimed he was pushed and fell during police questioning in Kolkata, after which a complaint was lodged against him.
- Political context
- The article says the TMC was defeated by the BJP in May 2026, ending Mamata Banerjee's 15-year tenure as chief minister.