Rape: Setback for Mamata Banerjee, Calcutta High Court ignites Tapas Pal controversy

Kolkata, July 28: In a major setback for

(TMC) and its chief

, Calcutta High Court on Monday, July 28 asked police to file an FIR against

within 72 hours.

Hitting the West Bengal government hard, the high court judge Dipankar Dutta ordered a separate probe by a team of CID and progress in the case will be monitored by the high court. Final report should be submitted by Sept 1, ordered the court.

Earlier BJP leaders in West Bengal had filed an FIR against Tapas Pal who landed in a controversy over his statement on rape. However, the cops did not take any actions against the actor-turned-TMC MP.

Justice Dutta had watched a video clip of the offensive comments made by Pal, for which he had tendered an unconditional apology. Irked at the language used by the two-time Lok Sabha MP from Krishnagar, Justice Dutta asked Pal's counsel if the comments were that of a lawmaker or of a loafer.

When the counsel submitted that Pal had already apologised for the comments, Justice Dutta wanted to know whether in the country one can get away with rape by seeking apologies.

A complaint was filed by Biplab Chowdhury at Nakashipara police station seeking action against Pal for his unsavoury comments against women and opposition party supporters.

Chowdhury, a resident of Nakashipara in the Krishnagar constituency, moved the high court praying that his complaint be treated as an FIR and a direction for a CID investigation into the matter.

Tapas Pal irked the nation when one video was released by a news TV channel. In the video, Pal was caught saying, "If any CPI(M) man is present here. Listen to me. If you ever touch any Trinamool Congress worker or their families at Choumaha, you have to pay for this. Don't try to act smart with me. I am smarter than you. I am not from Kolkata."

"If you insult the mothers and daughters of Trinamool workers. Then I won't spare you. I will let lose my boys in your homes and they will commit rape. I will teach each of you a lesson," Tapas Pal told.

TMC initially ensured everyone that the party would take actions against Pal. However, the party sidelined the issue after receiving an apology letter from the MP. Now, the latest order from the high court may bring more tough time for Mamata Banerjee and her government in the state.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)