- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 21 Dec 2025 04:31 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A man has been arrested for allegedly harassing West Bengal singer Lagnajita Chakraborty for not singing a “secular” song during her concert in Bhagwanpur, East Midnapore, on Saturday. She alleged that the accused abused her and attempted to assault her during the live performance.
The accused has been identified as Mehboob Mallik, who was also present at the private school where the concert took place. He is the main organiser of the event and the owner of the school, senior police officer Mitun Dey said.
Chakraborty also claimed that the officer in charge of the Bhagwanpur police station initially refused to register her complaint. A case was later lodged, following which Mallik was arrested.
The singer, who gained popularity with the Bengali song Basanto Eshe Geche, said she was performing the devotional track Jago Maa when Mallik allegedly walked onto the stage and attempted to assault her. In her police complaint, she said he threatened to beat her and shouted at her to stop the religious song and perform what he described as a “secular” one instead.
"A departmental inquiry has been initiated against Bhagawanpur police station's officer-in-charge and another officer. We will take action against them for their negligence," Mitun Dey said.
What The Accused Masud Mallik Said
Masud Mallik dismissed the allegations as unfounded, claiming that the dispute arose after Chakraborty allegedly demanded additional payment due to a delay in her performance slot. He said she was singing a religious song from an upcoming film and was only requested to perform a secular number since it was a school function.
"She was singing a religious song from her upcoming film. So, she was requested to sing a secular song, as it was a school function. She stopped her performance and went to the police station," he said.
"She has lodged a complaint against us, as we refused to give her extra money for her performance," he added.
According to him, she halted the show and went to the police station, filing a complaint after organisers refused to pay extra money. Chakraborty, however, rejected the accusation, saying she trusts the police and expects a serious probe into the matter.
BJP On The Bengal Singer Lagnajita Chakraborty Case
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Mallik is associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress. Reacting to the incident, BJP leader Shankudeb Panda claimed that the singer was being told what songs she could perform, calling it an “anti-Hindu” approach.
"West Bengal is in the hands of Jihadis. They are directing the singer as to which song she should sing. It was an anti-Hindu approach," BJP's Shankudeb Panda said.
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"When she (Lagnajita Chakraborty) had gone to the police station, (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee's police refused to lodge a police complaint," he alleged.
He also alleged that when Lagnajita Chakraborty approached the police, her complaint was initially not registered at the direction of the state government. The Trinamool Congress did not immediately respond to the allegations.