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Social media influencer arrested over ‘Mahua Moitra e-cigarette post’, released on bail

BJP accuses the TMC of attacking 'freedom of speech'

2 min readKolkataUpdated: Dec 16, 2025 10:00 AM IST

A Kolkata-based social media influencer has been booked for allegedly confining and assaulting a 22-year-old woman for nearly 20 hours at his Behala residence, police said. An FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Nikita Naik was arrested on June 30 by the Powai police following a complaint by the retired professor's son for shifting his 82-year-old father to an old-age home.

A social media influencer was arrested by the Kolkata Police’s Cyber Wing in connection with his post about TMC MP Mahua Moitra allegedly smoking e-cigarettes inside Parliament.

According to the police, Shashank Singh was arrested at midnight but was released on bail on Monday.

Singh’s X handle, BefittingFacts, which has 456k followers, had uploaded the post on December 11. “TMC MP Mahua Moitra smoking e-cigarette inside Parliament,” Singh had written and attached a video of BJP MP Anurag Thakur complaining to the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla about the alleged e-cigarette smoking.

An FIR was filed against the influencer based on a complaint filed by the TMC State General Secretary, IT & Social Media Wing, Nilanjan Das.

Das had filed a complaint with Cyber Wing of Kolkata Police, accusing BefittingFacts of circulating “fake, fabricated and defamatory posts”. He alleged that the posts were “manipulated, misleading, and factually incorrect”, and “appear to be part of a deliberate attempt to spread disinformation”.

According to police sources, Singh was detained at 1 am and later shown as arrested for the post. The police remained tight-lipped about further investigation or details related to the case.

Reacting to the arrest, BJP IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya took to X while accusing the TMC of attacking “freedom of speech”.

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“In a shocking midnight swoop, Mamata Banerjee’s administration arrested BefittingFacts simply for criticising the TMC over its mishandling of the Messi event and for calling out how West Bengal was being maligned. This blatant attack on free speech shows how intolerant the TMC has become of any dissenting voice. We have since ensured that he has secured bail. Let this be a clear lesson to the TMC… stop targeting freedom of speech and harassing common citizens for holding opinions against a discredited and insecure government,” read the post.

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics. Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism. Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage. Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement. Education Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills. Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College. Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting. Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region. Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More

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