Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee is facing a police complaint in Siliguri after remarks linking Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the handling of suspects in the killing of Bangladeshi political activist Sharif Osman bin Hadi triggered a fresh political and diplomatic dispute.
The complaint, filed by advocate Rinku Chatterjee Singh at the Siliguri Cyber Crime Police Station, accuses the former West Bengal chief minister of making statements capable of disturbing public order, damaging constitutional institutions and straining ties between India and Bangladesh. Police officials have confirmed receipt of the complaint, while the complainant has indicated that she may move the Calcutta High Court seeking further action.
Banerjee made the remarks on June 2 during a Trinamool protest in Kolkata against alleged post-poll violence and attacks on party leaders. Speaking from the protest platform, she claimed she knew details of a “big murder” in Bangladesh and alleged that Shah had contacted her after suspects were arrested in West Bengal, asking her not to disclose information in the name of national interest. She did not formally name Hadi in the speech, but the reference was widely read as relating to the killing of the Bangladeshi youth leader.
The allegation has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents, who have accused Banerjee of using a sensitive cross-border criminal case to target the Union government after Trinamool’s loss of power in West Bengal. BJP leaders have rejected the charge as politically motivated and have argued that such claims could encourage anti-India narratives in Bangladesh at a time when both governments are handling the case through official channels.
Hadi, a prominent figure associated with youth mobilisation after Bangladesh’s 2024 student-led uprising, was shot in Dhaka on December 12, 2025. He died in Singapore on December 18 after being airlifted for treatment. His killing led to large demonstrations, public mourning and heightened tensions in Bangladesh, where sections of his supporters demanded swift prosecution and raised allegations of wider political involvement.
Bangladesh’s interim authorities have sought to keep the matter within diplomatic and investigative channels. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka would not respond to remarks made by a political leader in another country, while adding that Bangladesh was working directly with the government of India over suspects linked to Hadi’s murder. Officials in Dhaka have said progress has been made in efforts to bring suspects back for legal proceedings.
The complaint against Banerjee adds another layer to an already volatile political climate in West Bengal. Trinamool has been holding demonstrations over alleged violence against its workers and leaders after the Assembly election. The party has accused BJP-backed groups of targeting its functionaries, including senior leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee. The BJP has denied involvement and has accused Trinamool of attempting to deflect from its electoral setback.
Legal experts say the immediate question is whether Banerjee’s remarks fall within the protection of political speech or cross into allegations that could affect public order and diplomatic relations. A police complaint does not automatically establish criminal liability, but it can lead to preliminary inquiry, registration of a case, or court-monitored action if investigators find grounds to proceed.
The controversy also places the Union home ministry in the centre of a politically charged dispute. No official confirmation has been issued to support Banerjee’s claim that Shah asked her to suppress information related to the Hadi case. The absence of documentary evidence has strengthened criticism from her opponents, while Trinamool supporters argue that Banerjee was raising questions about transparency in a matter with major regional implications.
