Anubrata says sorry in 40 mins after party fire over ‘abuse’ audio
Times of India | 31 May 2025
Kolkata/Bolpur: Birbhum TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal was forced to tender an unconditional apology on Friday after a four-minute audio clip surfaced where the neta was purportedly heard abusing and threatening Bolpur IC Liton Halder and his family.The audio clip was posted by BJP seniors on social media, prompting TMC to give Mondal a four-hour deadline to apologise. A FIR was registered against the TMC neta, he was issued a summons, and four cops tasked with guarding him were withdrawn. Facing the party's wrath, Mondal apologised within 40 minutes in a letter to the IC, and another to TMC state president Subrata Bakshi. He also released an audio tape.BJP netas did not name anyone when they posted the clip. In the tape, a person could be heard hurling abuses and threats, including of physical harm, to Halder. The person was also heard abusing and threatening the IC's wife and mother. Within minutes, TMC reacted sharply. "The party unequivocally dissociates and does not endorse the comments made by Anubrata Mondal against a police officer. We strongly condemn his use of derogatory and unacceptable abusive language. The party hereby instructs him to tender an unconditional apology within the next four hours, failing which show-cause proceedings will be initiated," the party said on X.Mondal wrote in his letter: "Honourable CM Mamata Banerjee, who is also the police minister of Bengal, considers everyone from ordinary police personnel to senior officers as close associates. I cannot think of disrespecting them. I am sorry for the recent incident. I am willing to apologise to the police not just once but a hundred times. The truth is, I take various medications, and if anyone makes an allegation against the police, I lose my temper. I am truly sorry." Interestingly, Mondal misspelt ‘dukkhito' (the Bengali for ‘sorry') in the letter.Even while apologising, however, he questioned as to how the audio had been leaked. "How did BJP obtain the audio clip of me and the IC? Who provided it? Isn't there a conspiracy?" he wrote in the same letter.By then, however, police had already acted against the Birbhum neta. "An FIR has been filed against Mondal under BNS sections 224 (obstructing govt work and threatening an on-duty officer), 132 (harassing a public servant), 75 (outraging modesty and harassment), and IPC section 351 (threatening)," SP Amandeep told reporters. At least one of the sections (BNS 132) is non-bailable. Mondal is out on bail in cattle smuggling and money laundering cases.Mondal, sources said, considers Halder to be close to zilla parishad president Kajal Sheikh. Mondal had made requests to the SP and the Bengal DGP, seeking the IC's removal.Earlier in the day, Mondal had tried to dismiss the audio clip, saying he had never abused or threatened. He later said he was feeling groggy because of medications and was angry upon learning that a party worker had been brutally assaulted by cops.Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X: "Just listening to this viral phone conversation makes it clear how dangerous anti-social goons are being carefully protected under the loving cover of the state's powerful and unchallengeable CM."