New Delhi, May 22, 2026 — A five-year-old social media exchange has come back to haunt two of Bengal’s most prominent film personalities. Actors Parambrata Chatterjee and Swastika Mukherjee are facing serious legal trouble after a criminal complaint was lodged against them at Kolkata’s Gariahat Police Station. The complaint links their old tweets to the brutal post-poll violence that tore through West Bengal following the 2021 Assembly Election results.
The First Information Report (FIR) stems from a legal complaint filed by advocate Joydeep Sen. He accuses the high-profile actors of “abetting, encouraging, and instigating” large-scale political violence during an incredibly volatile period in the state’s recent history.
The Social Media Trail
The controversy dates back to May 2, 2021—the exact day the West Bengal Assembly election results were announced, confirming a landslide victory for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to the police complaint, Parambrata Chatterjee posted a tweet in Bengali at approximately 4:00 PM that afternoon. Translated to English, the post read:
(Note: “Rogorani” is a local colloquial term often used in heated political rhetoric to mock or target opponents.)
Minutes later, acclaimed actress Swastika Mukherjee reportedly interacted with the tweet, replying with a laughing emoji and writing in Bengali, “Hahahah Hok Hok” (“Let it happen”).
Words vs. Real-World Consequences
While social media banter is common during major political events, the timing of these posts forms the core of the legal case against the actors. The complainant, advocate Joydeep Sen, argues that these statements cannot be brushed off as harmless commentary. Given that both individuals are highly influential public figures with massive followings, the complaint alleges their words had a devastating, real-world impact
The FIR points out a chilling chronological alignment. Roughly one hour after the tweet was posted, BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar was brutally murdered by political workers in Kolkata’s Beleghata area—a landmark case in which the culprits have since been tried and sentenced.
Furthermore, the complaint states that from the late afternoon of May 2, 2021, onward, organized, retaliatory violence erupted across multiple districts of West Bengal. Opposition supporters, primarily belonging to the BJP, faced targeted assaults, arson, extortion, and sexual violence.
“Their remarks directly instigated the murders of political workers, the harassment of women, and the widespread chaos carried out across the state,” the complainant stated, justifying the charges under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with abetment and incitement.
The Dark Shadow of the 2021 Elections
To understand why a five-year-old tweet is causing such a massive storm today, one has to look back at the sheer scale of the 2021 West Bengal election violence. Held across eight long phases, the election saw an incredible voter turnout of 82%. However, the democratic exercise was deeply marred by blood and intimidation.
Data from the election period reveals a shocking timeline of unrest:
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April 2021 (Polling Phase): Recorded 123 severe violent events and 19 deaths.
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May 2021 (Post-Result Phase): Recorded 88 violent events and 31 deaths, mostly retaliatory in nature.
The scale of the post-poll horrors eventually forced the Calcutta High Court to step in, taking strict cognisance of the human rights violations. The High Court subsequently ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the cases of murder and sexual assault, while setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into other cases of arson and property destruction.
Silence from the Film Fraternity
As the news of the FIR broke, a heavy silence settled over Tollywood (the Bengali film industry). Parambrata Chatterjee, internationally recognized for his roles in films like Kahaani, did not respond to repeated phone calls or text messages regarding the legal development. Swastika Mukherjee, known for her powerful performances and fierce social media presence, has also declined to comment on the matter.
The development has reignited a fierce debate regarding the responsibilities of celebrities on digital platforms. In a state as politically sensitive as West Bengal, where political rivalries frequently spill over into physical violence, legal experts suggest that public figures can no longer hide behind the defense of “digital sarcasm.”
A Recurring Theme in Bengal Politics
This is not the first time a major cultural icon in Bengal has faced legal heat over election-related rhetoric. Veteran actor and politician Mithun Chakraborty previously faced a similar legal battle when an FIR was filed against him by the TMC. Chakraborty was accused of inciting violence through his popular, aggressive movie dialogues—such as “I will hit you here and your body will fall in the crematorium”—during an election rally.
As the law catches up with past internet footprints, the case against Parambrata and Swastika highlights a sobering reality: in the internet age, deleted posts or passage of time do not guarantee immunity. For Bengal’s elite, the ghosts of the 2021 election violence continue to loom large, proving that words typed in a moment of political euphoria can carry a heavy price years down the line.