Agartala-based content creator Madhabi Biswas was arrested in Tripura for allegedly circulating obscene social media posts targeting top political figures. Police invoked IT and BNS laws as rights activists condemned the arrest as an attack on free expression.
In a major development that has triggered a debate over free speech and digital responsibility, Tripura Police on Sunday arrested an Agartala-based digital content creator, Madhabi Biswas, on charges of circulating obscene content and making derogatory remarks against top political leaders through social media platforms.
According to police sources, Biswas was arrested from her residence in Jogendranagar, West Tripura district, following a complaint filed by Paramita Ghosal. A team of women police officers, led by senior officials, conducted the raid and took her into custody.
She was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Agartala on Monday, where the police sought a seven-day custody. However, the court remanded her to three days of police custody for further interrogation and investigation.
Multiple Complaints Against the Content Creator
Police officials confirmed that Biswas had been regularly posting videos on Facebook, criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, former Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb, and Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Dipak Majumder.
Her videos, often styled as fiery political commentaries, reportedly contained objectionable and obscene language, which led to more than a dozen complaints being filed by AMC corporators and local BJP leaders across several police stations in Agartala.
“Biswas was accused of spreading obscenity through social media platforms. A case under various provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, has been registered against her,” said Rana Chatterjee, Officer-in-Charge of West Agartala Police Station.
Last month, another complaint was lodged against Biswas at East Agartala Police Station for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Tripura Sundari temple on September 22.
Background: PM’s Temple Visit and Rising Digital Tensions
On September 22, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the redeveloped 524-year-old Mata Tripura Sundari temple—a historic and spiritual site—and offered prayers at the adjacent Kali temple. The event was seen as a moment of cultural pride for Tripura, drawing widespread attention across the state.
However, Biswas’s alleged criticism of the visit reportedly angered several groups, leading to an escalation of complaints against her. Authorities noted that her content was being widely shared and discussed on various social media platforms before the arrest.
Rights Group Condemns Arrest
The Tripura Human Rights Organisation (THRO) strongly condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on the right to free expression.
“For the past few days, the police had been pressuring her to stop criticising the state government on social media, but she continued to do so. That’s why she has been arrested,” said Purushottam Ray Barman, senior advocate and President of THRO.
He added, “We demand her unconditional release. She was arrested to intimidate others from speaking against the government.”
Ray Barman, however, clarified that the organization does not endorse the use of obscene or defamatory content in public discourse.
Similar Arrests in the Past
This arrest has drawn parallels with the case of journalist Saikat Talapatra, who was detained in October last year from Sodepur in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Talapatra faced multiple charges in Tripura for allegedly maligning Chief Minister Manik Saha, his family members, and other politicians through online videos.
Talapatra’s social media activity had previously targeted several high-profile figures, including former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Tipra Motha Party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, and Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman.
The two arrests highlight a growing tension between digital freedom and political accountability in Tripura’s online ecosystem, where the boundaries of criticism, obscenity, and defamation are increasingly blurred.
Public Debate Intensifies
The incident has reignited conversations about the limits of free speech on digital platforms and the use of new legal codes like the BNS in managing online behavior.
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While law enforcement agencies argue that the crackdown targets obscene or defamatory material, human rights defenders view it as a tool of censorship against voices critical of the ruling establishment.
As Biswas remains in police custody for further questioning, her arrest continues to spark widespread reactions on social media, reflecting the polarized nature of political expression in Tripura’s digital space.
