# West Bengal Man Arrested After Lighting Cigarette With Burning PM Modi Poster, Apologizes With Folded Hands

> Police in West Bengal's Barasat arrested 32-year-old Soumik Chatterjee for sharing a controversial photo lighting a cigarette with a burning poster of PM Narendra Modi. He later issued a public apology.

**Type:** article · **Category:** West Bengal · **Published:** 2026-07-27 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/narendra-modi-ke-jalate-postara-se-sigareta-sulagane-vala-soumik-chatterjee-west-bengal-men-giraphtara-korta-jate-samaya-mangi-map-10721 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** West Bengal, Narendra Modi, Soumik Chatterjee, Barasat Police, Social Media Controversy

A contentious incident has emerged from the Barasat area in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, where local police took swift action to arrest a man accused of posting a derogatory photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platforms. The 32-year-old accused, Soumik Chatterjee, allegedly lit a cigarette using the flame from a burning image of the Prime Minister and posted the picture online. The photograph quickly circulated across digital platforms, triggering widespread outrage and prompting political leaders to demand strict legal action against the offender.

## Defamatory Photo and Subsequent Police Action
The controversy began when the image of Soumik Chatterjee smoking a cigarette ignited by the burning poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi began trending on social media platforms. Following the public outrage, Anirban Biswas, the BJP president for Barasat Mandal-3, lodged a formal complaint at the Barasat police station. The complaint alleged that Chatterjee intentionally posted the objectionable photo to defame and demean the dignity of the Prime Minister. Acting promptly on the complaint, police officers conducted a raid at Chatterjee's residence on Saturday night and placed him under arrest within hours of receiving the official report.

## Court Appearance and Public Apology
On Sunday, as police officers escorted Soumik Chatterjee to the local court for legal proceedings, the accused displayed a starkly altered attitude in front of media personnel. Facing news cameras, Chatterjee folded his hands and publicly pleaded for forgiveness, acknowledging that he had made a severe error. He stated that he had committed a massive mistake and offered a sincere apology to the public. The video capturing his emotional apology and shifted posture while in police custody subsequently went viral across social media channels, drawing significant public attention.

## Family Reaction and Faith in Administration
Amid the growing controversy, Soumik Chatterjee's father addressed the media to express his profound regret over his son's actions. He explicitly stated that the family does not condone or support such disrespectful behavior under any circumstances. According to the father, his son committed a grave mistake, and the family remains completely unaware of what motivated him to engage in such an act. He added that the matter is now in the hands of the police and expressed complete faith in the legal system and administrative authorities to handle the case appropriately.

## Protest Connections and Ongoing Investigation
The arrest took place shortly after left-wing student organizations held a major demonstration in Kolkata protesting against the NEET paper leak issue. That protest had also received support from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Reports circulated attempting to link the accused with the event; however, an official representative from CJP clarified that Soumik Chatterjee holds no membership or formal association with their organization. The official noted that while anyone could participate in a public rally, Chatterjee was not a member of CJP. Barasat police stated that the arrest was executed strictly based on the formal complaint, and further legal procedures are continuing.

## What this means for you
**Across India:** Posting defamatory or offensive content targeting constitutional figures on social media platforms can trigger swift legal action and arrest under Cyber and Defamation laws.

**In West Bengal:** Law enforcement agencies in Barasat and North 24 Parganas are maintaining high vigilance over online activities to ensure public order.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who was arrested in West Bengal?
Police arrested 32-year-old Soumik Chatterjee from Barasat in North 24 Parganas district.

### 2. What are the primary charges against Soumik Chatterjee?
He is accused of posting a defamatory photo online showing him lighting a cigarette with a burning poster of PM Narendra Modi.

### 3. Who filed the police complaint in this matter?
Anirban Biswas, the BJP president for Barasat Mandal-3, lodged the official complaint with the police.

### 4. What reaction did the accused give while being taken to court?
While being escorted by police, he folded his hands before cameras, confessed his mistake, and offered a public apology.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._