Dhirendra Krishna Shastri poster-burning row: Congress leader Atanu Das gets four-day police custody as defence challenges arrest and applicant alleges possible extremist links.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri Controversy Escalates as Congress Leader Faces Police Custody and Extremism Allegations
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | September 11, 2026
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri has become the centre of a growing political and legal controversy in West Bengal after a Congress leader accused of burning a poster depicting the Madhya Pradesh-based religious figure was remanded in police custody for four days by an Alipore court.
Dhirendra Krishna Shastri was at the heart of the dispute after Congress workers staged a protest outside Bhabanipur Police Station and allegedly burnt his photograph in response to controversial remarks attributed to him about food habits during Durga Puja. Congress leader Atanu Das, South Kolkata District Congress general secretary, was subsequently arrested from his residence.
The court on Friday directed that Das remain in police custody until September 14. Police had sought seven days’ custody, arguing that interrogation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the alleged motive of those involved.
Das’s lawyer strongly opposed the police remand, arguing that protesting against a public figure’s remarks falls within the constitutional right to freedom of expression. The defence maintained that the police should identify and question all those visible in the protest footage rather than keeping Das in custody.
According to the defence, there was no justification for treating Das as though he posed a serious security threat. His lawyer also questioned the manner in which the arrest was carried out, alleging that police officers kicked the door of Das’s residence at night.
The lawyer further accused the state government of attempting to suppress opposition voices and argued that the sections invoked in the case were not applicable. He also criticised the Chief Minister’s public direction to police to arrest those involved in burning the photograph.
Outside the courtroom, the defence lawyer alleged that the arrest amounted to an attack on democratic rights and questioned whether legislative statements should influence the judicial process.
The applicant’s lawyer, meanwhile, advanced a much more serious line of argument. The lawyer suggested that investigators should examine whether individuals associated with banned or extremist organisations could have any connection with the incident.
The applicant’s counsel referred to previous cases, including the Khagragarh blast investigation, and alleged that people linked to extremist networks could sometimes operate under different identities. The lawyer argued that only a proper police investigation could establish whether such allegations had any factual basis.
The counsel also referred to the possibility of financial links involving organisations operating from Bangladesh or Pakistan, while stressing that investigation was necessary to determine the actual motive behind the incident.
No such extremist connection has been established in court at this stage, and the allegations remain part of the arguments advanced by the applicant’s side.
Government lawyer Sourin Ghoshal argued that the accused had not merely protested but allegedly burnt the poster, used footwear against it and made derogatory remarks. He said a complaint had been filed by an organisation and that the arrests were made on the basis of that complaint.
The prosecution maintained that police custody was required to determine the accused persons’ motive and establish the wider circumstances surrounding the protest.
Ghoshal also argued that Dhirendra Krishna Shastri has followers across India and that the incident could have consequences beyond West Bengal. He claimed that the conduct of the protesters had brought disrepute to the state.
After hearing arguments from all sides, the Alipore court ordered Das to remain in police custody until September 14.
Political Opposition Condemns Arrest
The arrest has triggered criticism from political parties across the state’s opposition spectrum.
The Congress condemned the arrest and described it as an example of what it called “fascist aggression.” The CPI(M) also criticised the action.
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty compared the episode with the earlier arrest of Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra during the previous Trinamool Congress government. Mahapatra had been arrested over the circulation of a political cartoon on social media.
Chakraborty argued that the present Chief Minister had grown politically under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and alleged that the current administration was now going even further in restricting dissent.
Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh also criticised the arrest, arguing that the controversy surrounding the remarks attributed to the religious figure should not be ignored. He questioned why action had not been taken in other cases involving allegedly offensive remarks against Bengali figures.
A section of the Trinamool Congress, however, adopted a more cautious position.
Riju Dutta said his party had already opposed the remarks concerning Durga Puja and food habits, but argued that Congress leaders should have focused on political protest rather than publicity. He added that the law should take its own course.
The dispute began after Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh made remarks concerning vegetarianism during Durga Puja. His comments generated controversy in Bengal, particularly after he reportedly described Bengalis who eat non-vegetarian food during the festival as “pakhandi”, or hypocrites.
Congress workers subsequently organised a demonstration outside Bhabanipur Police Station on Tuesday. Das and several other Congress leaders and workers participated in the protest under the leadership of South Kolkata District Congress president Pradip Prasad.
During the demonstration, a photograph of Shastri was allegedly burnt, triggering a political and legal escalation.
The following day, Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari, who also holds th state Home portfolio, directed the Kolkata Police to arrest those responsible. Speaking in the state Assembly, he said he had seen people burning the photograph outside Bhabanipur Police Station and instructed the Kolkata Police Commissioner to take action.
Following the directive, police registered an FIR against several Congress leaders, including Ashutosh Chattopadhyay and Pradip Prasad. The allegations included public harassment, attempts to disturb public peace, promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion, caste or language, and spreading hatred.
Police later arrested Atanu Das from his residence on Kshetramohan Naskar Lane in Kolkata.
The case has now moved beyond a political protest, with the court proceedings bringing competing claims over freedom of expression, public order and alleged extremist connections into the spotlight. Whether any wider conspiracy existed will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and evidence produced before the court.
