Man denied bail who questioned Mamata Banerjee

Calcutta: A West Bengal court Monday rejected the bail petition of a man who was arrested after he had publicly questioned the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on his government's policies to farmers.

"The court of the assistant chief judicial magistrate (Jhargram) Monday rejected the bail petition Shiladitya Chowdhury. He is now in judicial custody," his lawyer said Ashwini Mandal.

Chowdhury, a farmer marginal, was arrested Saturday in West Midnapore district Jhargram for "disrupting a public meeting and assaulting police officers." It was then referred to the legal custody of 14 days.

He has been charged in several non-bailable articles of the Penal Code of India, one of which carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

While Banerjee was addressing a public rally on July 8 in a Maoist stronghold about 170km from Calcutta Belpahari, Chowdhury stood up and asked. "Farmers are dying because they have money are not enough empty promises What are you doing for farmers.?

Stunned by the question, an angry Banerjee was immediately branded a "Maoist" after which Chowdhury was arrested and taken for questioning by police.

"I have information of the Maoists have sent agents to create disturbances at this meeting. Catch it. Be sure to create problems," said Banerjee.

Chowdhury was, however, allowed to go that day, but was arrested Saturday morning. The arrest prompted a strong reaction from all sectors, including the Press Council of India President Markandey Katju, Banerjee who denounced as "totally dictatorial, intolerant and capricious.He called the action a "flagrant misuse" of the state machinery and the "flagrant violation" of constitutional and human rights.