BJP leader and former actress Roopa Ganguly was granted bail by the Alipore Police Court on Thursday after being arrested earlier in the day during a protest demanding justice for a schoolboy’s tragic death in Kolkata’s Bansdroni area. The court granted bail to Ganguly on a bond of ₹1,000.
Arrest During Protest Ganguly was detained while leading a peaceful demonstration outside Bansdroni Police Station, seeking the arrest of those responsible for the death of a 14-year-old student. The boy was fatally struck by an excavator while on his way to tuition. The BJP leader claimed that despite the seriousness of the incident, the culprits, allegedly close aides of a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor, were not arrested in a timely manner.
After her arrest, Ganguly was taken to Lalbazar Police Station and later produced in court. Speaking from the Alipore Police Court lockup, Ganguly said, “I haven’t troubled anyone. I haven’t obstructed anyone’s work. I was peacefully sitting there so that those who have murdered that boy should be caught. I haven’t harmed anyone, but they have imposed unnecessary charges on me.”
Police Statement Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma addressed the media, stating that Ganguly had been arrested for obstructing police duties. According to Verma, the police had already arrested five individuals in connection with the tragic incident. However, when Ganguly arrived at the Bansdroni Police Station, she allegedly demanded the release of those arrested for manhandling the police.
“Roopa Ganguly arrived at the Police Station and demanded the release of those arrested. When informed that legal action would follow, she sat on a dharna and refused to leave, obstructing the work of the police. A case was registered against her, and she was arrested and produced before the court,” Verma said in a statement.
BJP Leader’s Allegations Ganguly alleged that the police had been slow to act because the accused were connected to the ruling TMC party. “The police couldn’t arrest them throughout the day. I requested the officers to arrest those goons and was quietly protesting at the Bansdroni Police Station. For no reason, the police arrested me and brought me to Lalbazar. God knows why they can’t arrest the culprits on time but instead harass common people,” she said.
Ganguly further claimed that the boys involved in the incident were under the influence of alcohol and that the original driver was not operating the vehicle during the fatal accident.
Incident Background The incident occurred on Mahalaya morning, a significant day in West Bengal’s religious calendar, when a schoolboy was killed after being struck by a payloader. The vehicle was allegedly being operated by an untrained individual at the time, and locals reported that the driver and others involved were intoxicated.
Tensions Rise The incident has sparked tensions in the Bansdroni area, with Ganguly and her supporters accusing the police of protecting politically connected individuals. Ganguly’s arrest has been met with widespread criticism from her party, with BJP leaders condemning the action as “unnecessary” and calling for justice for the deceased student.
Sources By Agencies