‘Deliberate Misinformation’: Bengal CEO Fact-Checks ‘Fake News’ On Poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay’s Arrest

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 15:05 IST

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer denies any arrest warrant for poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay, condemns fake news on the case and warns of strict legal action against rumour.

In a major fact-check, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal has strongly criticised what it called a “deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news" regarding an alleged arrest warrant against poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay. The clarification came after reports circulated widely on Wednesday morning, claiming that the poet could be arrested ahead of the Assembly elections.

In a post on X, the West Bengal CEO said such misleading claims were harmful to the democratic process. The office stated that the spread of false information undermines public trust and warned that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible.

“The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, strongly condemns the deliberate spread of misinformation and fake news by certain individuals and sections of the media regarding the electoral process," said West Bengal CEO in a post on X.

“Such actions are not only misleading but also undermine public trust in democratic institutions. Strict legal action will be initiated against those found responsible for disseminating false and unverified information," the West Bengal CEO added in another post.

What we know about the case?

Early reports suggested that Srijato had come under censorship just before the elections. It was claimed that an arrest warrant had been issued in connection with an old case from a few years ago. Some reports even said he could be arrested before voting began.

Initially, it was suggested that the step had been taken to ensure free and fair elections. This led to widespread confusion and concern. However, the Election Commission soon dismissed the claims and said the reports were “false".

The news of the alleged arrest created a major stir across the state. Many described the situation as unprecedented and criticised the Election Commission. Members of the cultural community also reacted sharply, condemning the reports and raising concerns over freedom of expression.

At first, it was believed that the Election Commission had adopted a strict approach to maintain law and order before the 2026 Assembly elections. This added to the tension around the reports.

Poet responds to reports

Srijato said he came to know about the alleged arrest warrant through media reports on Wednesday morning. Speaking to reporters, he referred to the ideas of Plato while reacting to the situation.

He said, “In an ideal state, there is no place for poets. Speaking freely and raising one’s voice are often treated as wrong in society. Perhaps that has gone a bit too far now, and one may have to pay the price."

He also added that he had not yet been able to contact a lawyer and did not want to respond in haste without knowing all the details.

What is the controversy?

The controversy is believed to be linked to Srijato’s poem Abhishap, which had triggered strong reactions in the past. The poem had earlier been removed from Facebook, and the poet faced protests, threats, and allegations of hurting religious sentiments.

An FIR had been filed against him before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in a court in Krishnanagar. In another incident, he faced protests during an event in Assam and was detained for three hours.

Reports suggested that the recent rumours about an arrest warrant were linked to that earlier case. However, authorities have now made it clear that the claims circulating ahead of the elections are false.

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