The complaint was lodged by BJP leader Saptarshi Chowdhury, who claims the clip, circulating widely on social media, contains statements that insult the sacredness of Durga Puja and sow division between Bengali and Gujarati communities. The video, purportedly shot at Srijani Hall in Durgapur on 1 October 2022, shows Salim remarking that the festival has been turned into a ‘government festival’ with crores spent on decorations and contractors from Gujarat, and that the autumn celebrations are being reshaped into Navratri. Under Indian Penal Code sections 196 and 299, the police have registered an FIR at Tala station in Kolkata and launched an investigation into the alleged hate speech. Salim, in a terse reply to Times Now, dismissed the charges as a ‘badge of honour for a communist’ when a fascist speaks. The case has sparked debate over freedom of expression versus communal harmony, with some local shopkeepers fearing that the controversy could deter tourists during the peak Puja season. The investigation will be completed within 60 days, after which the police will file a charge sheet and the matter may be forwarded to the court for trial.