In a whirlwind of controversy, Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal finds himself at the centre of a political storm. A purported late-night phone call allegedly features Mondal using offensive language and issuing threats against a police officer and his family. The viral clip has drawn widespread backlash and raised pressing questions about institutional accountability and the state’s response to high-profile misconduct.
The Viral Call
An audio clip of a call that reportedly took place at 11:30 PM on May 28 began circulating on social media on May 30, following a post by a BJP leader on X. In the clip, Mondal can be heard threatening the inspector-in-charge (IC) of the Bolpur sub-division in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, using vulgar language. He warned IC Liton Halder that he would be dragged by his hair from the police station and went so far as to make obscene threats against Halder’s wife and mother, as reported by the Deccan Herald and The Wire India.
However, no official body has confirmed the authenticity of the voices in the clip.
By the Book: FIR Filed, Y+ Security Withdrawn
An FIR was filed promptly, charging Mondal with both cognisable and non-cognisable offences, and his Y+ security (four guards) was revoked. No FIR number has been publicly disclosed as of now.
Liton Haldar has submitted a formal complaint alleging verbal abuse by a local TMC leader two days ago. An FIR has been filed, and we are committed to pursuing all available legal actions,” stated Amandeep, Superintendent of Police in Birbhum, according to the Hindustan Times.
Charges filed in FIR:
- Non-Cognisable Offences (police need court permission to arrest):
BNS Section 224: Threatening a public servant – Bailable
BNS Section 351: Criminal intimidation – Bailable
2. Cognisable Offences (police can arrest without warrant):
BNS Section 132: Assault or criminal force against a public servant – Non-bailable
BNS Section 75: Sexual harassment – Non-bailable
A Hasty Mea Culpa
In a damage control move on May 30, the Trinamool Congress publicly demanded an apology from Mondal within four hours via X. Subsequently, he complied within just 40 minutes, submitting apology letters to both IC Halder and TMC State President Subrata Bakshi.
According to The Indian Express, Mondal expressed regret in the letter. “I can apologise to Didi’s police a hundred times,” he wrote, claiming he lashed out in anger over allegations against the police. He also asked pointedly, “How did the BJP obtain the clip of my private conversation with the IC?”
The Cat & Mouse Summons Game
On May 31, after Mondal failed to appear in person, four lawyers showed up on his behalf at the Bolpur SDPO [Sub-Divisional Police Officer] office. His legal team suggested that there may be an “AI-manipulated” audio plot but provided no evidence to support their claim, according to a report by The Times of India. A second summons was then issued for June 1.
Mondal missed three consecutive police summons.
Smell a Rat: Doubts Over Medical Certificate
According to The Telegraph, Mondal submitted a questionable medical certificate advising five days’ rest. The certificate, signed by a government doctor, was issued on the letterhead of a private medical college, which is a clear breach of protocol.
The plot thickened when the doctor went untraceable, and the college’s owner, Malay Pit, a known ally of Mondal, was reportedly “out of town.” Reports claim that the Chief Medical Officer of Health will initiate an inquiry only after a formal complaint is received.
Memory Lapses & Sleeping Pills: The Last Resort
According to The Print, at 3:15 PM on June 5, Mondal arrived at the SDPO Bolpur office in a friend’s car, without his usual white SUV or security. To avoid the media, he utilised the back door of the station. During the two-hour interrogation, he claimed memory lapses, saying he couldn’t recall the call due to having taken sleeping pills.
Clampdown on Media: Police Threaten News Channel
Birbhum police sent a two-page legal notice to Suman Dey, the Vice President of ABP Ananda [Bengali TV news channel], warning of action if they continued airing the call recordings, claiming it maligns the police’s image. (ABP Anand inputs)
Déjà Vu: Mondal’s Checkered Past
- Jailed (Sept 2022 – Sept 2024) in a cattle smuggling case
- Released due to insufficient evidence, despite probes by the CBI and ED
- NIA couldn’t nab him in coal, sand, and treasure smuggling cases
- His daughter, Sukanya Mondal, also spent 16 months in Tihar Jail, released on bail
- Once, publicly ordered TMC workers to hurl bombs at police and burn homes of political rivals, but faced no consequences. [OpIndia inputs]
- Has reportedly abused police officials on several occasions in the past.
Despite these scandals, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee retained him in the party during his incarceration, and he received a heroic welcome upon his return to Birbhum after his release, reports The Hindu.
Political Reactions Pour In
The National Commission for Women [NCW] member & BJP leader Archana Majumdar wrote to West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar over the derogatory remarks of Mongal and the lack of swift police action.
The leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari (BJP), alleged that Mondal reported to the police only after assurance from CM Mamata Banerjee that no action would be taken. He also claimed that the TMC was sidelining Mondal to gradually hand over Birbhum’s control to Sheikh Kajal, hinting at a communal motive. “Control is shifting from Anubrata Mondal, a Hindu, to Kajal, a Muslim – that’s the core of what’s happening,” he insinuated.
CPI(M) State Secretary Md. Salim raised concerns over the selective seizure of phones, pointing out that Halder’s device was seized but not Mondal’s.
“Anubrata Mondal’s remarks and the TMC’s delayed response raise a pressing question: Can a party truly champion women’s rights while shielding those who threaten them?”
