[Lok Sabha Elections] Calcutta High Court Grants Interim Relief To Actor-Turned BJP Politician Hiran Accused Of Tampering With Rival's Voice In Clip

The Calcutta High Court has directed the Kolkata police to not arrest actor-turned-politician Hiranmay Chattopadhyay (Hiran) without leave of the Court in a case wherein the BJP politician was accused of tampering with rival TMC candidate, actor Deepak Adhikari's (Dev) voice clip in the lead up to the Lok Sabha elections at Ghatal constituency where the actors were contesting against each other.

Justice Amrita Sinha directed the police to continue their investigation but not take any coercive steps against the BJP politician, who lost the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Ghatal constituency to rival TMC candidate Dev.

Counsel for the accused stated that while the complaint alleged the formation of a fake audio of Dev, the allegations were unfounded and the FIR ought to be quashed.

It was stated that the forensic testing of the voice samples had not been carried out and that the petitioner ought to be granted protection till it could be ascertained whether the audio had been manipulated in the first place.

State counsel opposed the prayer for interim protection and pleaded for the court to allow the investigation to carry on unhindered.

Upon hearing the arguments, the Court allowed the investigation to continue but directed the police to not arrest the accused without leave of the court. 

Notably, a separate plea had been moved before a vacation bench of the High Court seeking to modify Justice Sinha's determination to prevent her from hearing cases related to police action.

Case: HIRANMAY CHATTOPADHYAY @ HIRAN AND ANR. VS STATE OF WEST BENGAL AND ORS.

Case No: WPA/14941/2024