New Delhi: Bengal Congress leader Sanmoy Bandyopadhyay, who was arrested on Thursday by the West Bengal cybercrime cell for making remarks critical of the ruling TMC government and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, was released on bail on Sunday after two days in police custody, according to IANS.

Bandopadhyay alleged that he was subjected to “inhuman torture” and was not allowed to drink a drop of water for 14 hours at the behest of “aunt and nephew” – a reference to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

“I was subjected to inhuman torture… They rained 40-50 blows on me,” the journalist-turned-politician claimed, adding that his harassment was in retaliation to “speaking out against the rule of the jungle”.

“I asked for water so many times, I could see they were all drinking water. But I was not given a single drop to drink for 14 hours. I was made to sit on a stool in the police station. At 4.50 a.m. they took me outdoor, put me in a vehicle, but did not answer my repeated questions as to where they were taking me,” Bandopadhyay said.

“If I have written anything unjust, there can be a defamation case against me. But what is this?” he said and added that he felt indebted to Congress MLA Nepal Mahato for his support.

The police have denied the allegation.

Bandyopadhyay, who also runs a popular YouTube channel ‘Banglar Barta’, was arrested late on Thursday night near his residence in Sodepur. According to India Today, Bandyopadhyay’s family members alleged that he was forcibly whisked away by a group of ‘musclemen’. “A group of TMC goons gate-crashed into our neighbour’s house and dragged him out,” Bandyopadhyay’s elder brother Tanmoy alleged.

Following Bandopadhyay’s arrest, West Bengal Congress president Somendra Nath Mitra said he was arrested for criticising the “misrule of the TMC government on Facebook and other social media platforms.” Alleging that the police acted on instructions from TMC leaders, Mitra also said the party intended to fight Bandyopadhyay’s arrest “politically and legally”.

The family claimed that when they approached the local police station to file a complaint, they were informed that the Congress leader had been arrested in connection with a cybercrime case in Purulia.

Bandyopadhyay had been vocal in his criticism of the Mamata Banerjee led government and used his YouTube channel to air political commentary.

Also read: Political Satire and Free Speech: Lessons from the Mamata Banerjee Meme case

According to a report in NDTV, Bandyopadhyay’s family members who were present at the Purulia court on Friday alleged that the public prosecutor stated that the Congress leader had been arrested for his defamatory comments against the chief minister and her nephew.

The complaint against Bandyopadhyay, which accuses him of forgery, forgery with the purpose of harming the reputation, defamation and statements leading to public mischief, was reportedly filed by a Trinamool Youth Congress leader based in Purulia. However, according to NDTV, police sources claimed that the chief minister was not mentioned in the complaint.

Senior CPI(M) lawmaker Sujan Chakraborty also expressed concern over Bandyopadhyay’s arrest.

A journalist & senior politician Sanmoy Bandopadhyay, a crusader against the corrupt practices & foul plays of @MamataOfficial & nephew, is hounded, beaten & kidnapped by police & gestapos of @AITCofficial last night. Fascistic rule @MamataOfficial, following @AmitShah really? pic.twitter.com/rptxu3gCU6 — Dr.Sujan Chakraborty (@Sujan_Speak) October 18, 2019

The Congress leader’s arrest has also triggered protests near his home by Congress workers. The BJP also protested the arrest, terming it “undemocratic”.

This is not the first time that the TMC led government has come under fire for its attempts at curbing free speech.

Earlier this year in May, the convenor of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing in Howrah, Priyanka Sharma was arrested for sharing a morphed image of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

In April, the Supreme Court slammed the West Bengal government for not allowing the screening of the satirical film Bhobishyoter Bhoot. The film’s director Anik Dutta had previously criticised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s style of functioning.