Delhi: According to the Congress, a spokesperson of its Bengal unit Sanmay Bandyopadhyay was picked up from his residence at Agarpara in North 24-Parganas district on Thursday night by a group of 50-60 persons who did not disclose their identity.
“Sanmay Banerjee was arrested by the cyber crime section from Khardha area of North 24 Parganas district on Thursday on the basis of a complaint. In court, we prayed for seven days of police custody but the court granted two days,” said Akash Magharia, superintendent Purulia district police.
He was charged under sections 465 ( forgery), 469 (forgery for harming reputation), 500 (defamation), 505 (statements inducing public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66 (computer related offences) of the Information Technology Act.
“He used to highlight on social media the injustices perpetrated by the ruling party. Over the past few days, he was focussing on what was happening in villages and districts. It (the arrest) is a political conspiracy, the elder brother of Sanmay.
The leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and MP from Baharampur, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, condemned the arrest on social media. “Police arrested well-known spokesperson of the Congress and efficient journalist Sanmaybabu after storming his home simply because he criticised the government. ‘Didi’ this ugly attack of your won’t be able to weaken us,” Chowdhury wrote on social media.