Kolkata: Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee of the Kolkata High Court has received death threats on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). This alarming situation began after he refused to grant interim bail to a social media influencer involved in a hate speech case. Following this decision, several anonymous accounts on social media started posting inflammatory and objectionable content.
Fake Accounts Spreading Hatred
The majority of the accounts issuing threats are using fake names and profile pictures. Some users posted comments like, “This judge should be introduced to unknown gunmen,” while others demanded, “We need his identity and whereabouts so the public can take matters into their own hands.” Several posts even shared personal information about the judge, such as his old college details (Hugli Mohsin College) and other bio data.
Complaints Filed with Kolkata Police on Social Media
Distressed by the threats, some social media users tagged Kolkata Police and senior officials to file complaints. However, despite the tagging, there has been no response from Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and Joint CP (Crime) Rupesh Kumar. Nabanita Ray, the Registrar General of the High Court, mentioned that the court would take cognizance of the matter after June 9, when the courts reopen post the holiday break.
Judge’s Advice: “Think Before You Speak”
During the hearing of the case, Justice Chatterjee had clearly stated, “Our country is home to many religions, languages, and communities. It is essential to be cautious while speaking on any platform.” He referred to earlier Supreme Court rulings emphasizing that hate speech and incitement can be harmful to society, and such speech should be strongly condemned.
Vacation Bench Grants Bail to Influencer
The influencer, who is also a law student, was granted interim bail by the Vacation Bench on Thursday. Before delivering the decision, the court had sought the case diary from the state government to ensure the correct judgment. Despite the bail, the continued targeting of the judge highlights a growing concern for the judiciary, posing a serious threat to the country’s legal system.
This disturbing incident underscores the increasing challenges faced by judges and legal professionals in ensuring justice, particularly when sensitive issues like hate speech are involved.
Leave a Reply