Almost a year after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP and actor Tapas Paul’s video became public in which he was found inciting violence against women, a charge sheet was filed in the case in a court at Krishnanagar (Nadia district) on Thursday.
The charge sheet, filed by the State Crime Investigation Department (CID), found him guilty of violating Sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Mr. Paul was found to have said at a public meeting that he would kill supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and would unleash his boys on their women. The video was made public in June 2014 putting the TMC at a great embarrassment.
Despite the public anger, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to act against the actor-turned-politician after he wrote a letter to the party seeking apology over the incident. Ms Banerjee went to the extent of saying, “What should I do, kill him”.
After a PIL was submitted at the Calcutta High Court regarding Mr. Paul’s controversial speech, the court ordered a CID probe into the case in July 2014. While a single-judge Bench ruled against him, the State government then appealed to a two-judge Bench which delivered a split decision. The case was then referred to judge Nishita Mhatre. In September, Justice Mhatre had rapped the State government for not taking any action against the MP and directed a CID probe into the matter.
