Kozhikode: The Press Club of India (PCI) has strongly condemned the West Bengal Police’s decision to register a First Information Report (FIR) against independent news outlet Maktoob Media, characterising the legal action as an unacceptable attempt to stifle press freedom and curb independent journalism in India.

The media body demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR, which stems from Maktoob’s reporting on allegations raised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra. The politician had earlier alleged that senior Muslim civil servants and police officers were systematically excluded from high-level review meetings during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visits to West Bengal.

In a formal statement, the journalists’ organisation asserted that reporting on serious allegations of public interest is an essential journalistic duty.

“It is the job of journalism to report serious allegations of this nature, and given that even independent constitutional authorities have taken cognisance of them, the West Bengal Police’s attempt to target Maktoob Media for its reporting cannot be justified,” the Press Club stated. “This FIR is an attack on press freedom and part of the pattern to attempt to stop any independent journalism in the country.”

The case was registered on September 19 at the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station following a written complaint by one Saurav Banerjee. Filed under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—including Sections 196(1), 299, 353, and 356(2) relating to promoting enmity, outraging religious feelings, public mischief, and defamation—the FIR lists the primary accused simply as “Unknown”. However, the body of the complaint explicitly references social media posts and videos published by Maktoob Media.

Maktoob stated that it received no prior notification from law enforcement and only became aware of the proceedings after receiving a notice from the social media platform X (Twitter). Police have since demanded extensive user data from X regarding the @MaktoobMedia account, including creation details, IP login records, and associated Android device configuration parameters. Curiously, authorities requested login data covering the period between 1st February and 5th February 2026—months prior to the events in question.

Police letters sent to X labelled Maktoob’s posts as “entirely fabricated” and “malicious”, alleging they contained objectionable graphical content designed to disturb public tranquillity. Meta had previously removed a graphic poster carousel detailing Moitra’s claims from Instagram in India following a legal demand under IT Rules.

The reporting by the media house centers on detailed allegations made by MP Mahua Moitra regarding official visits by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in July and August 2026.

Moitra alleged that three senior Muslim officials—Siliguri Police Commissioner Syed Waqar Raza, IPS; Director General of the West Bengal Special Task Force Jawed Shamim, IPS; and Additional Chief Secretary Khalil Ahmed, IAS—were deliberately omitted from protocol lists or instructed to leave key security and administration meetings.

According to Moitra, Commissioner Raza was asked to step aside during a critical border security review on 18th July, despite Siliguri being the sole commissionerate in the state bordering Bangladesh.

Similarly, senior officers Shamim and Ahmed were reportedly directed not to attend discussions on law and order, disaster preparedness, and new criminal laws, being replaced by junior colleagues.

Moitra formally lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Minorities on 18th September, citing discriminatory treatment based on religion. On 21st September, the Commission directed the West Bengal government to submit a detailed report within 10 days. The MP has also written to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues requesting an international inquiry.

Notably, West Bengal Police have also registered an FIR against Moitra herself over her social media statements regarding the matter.