The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has rejected allegations of anti-Muslim discrimination made by Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra against Union government functions in West Bengal, recommending instead that local police investigate the origin and authenticity of her claims.

The directive follows statements from the three senior Muslim bureaucrats named in the complaint, all of whom explicitly denied encountering religious bias or intentional exclusion during official proceedings.

Background of the Complaint

On September 16, 2026, Moitra, the Krishnanagar MP, lodged a formal petition under Section 9(1)(d) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Addressing the NCM Chairperson, she alleged a systemic pattern of religious bias directed at high-ranking Muslim civil servants during two visits to West Bengal by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in July and August 2026.

Her complaint cited specific instances involving three senior officers:

Syed Waquar Raza, IPS (Commissioner of Police, Siliguri): Alleged to have been asked to step out of a border security meeting on July 18, 2026, and left off official protocol lists.

Jawed Shamim, IPS (Director General of Police, Special Task Force): Alleged to have been excluded from high-level review meetings, with a junior officer sent in his place.

Khalil Ahmed, IAS (Additional Chief Secretary, Fire & Emergency Services): Alleged to have been turned away from a July 19 disaster management meeting in Kolkata.

Moitra argued these incidents violated fundamental constitutional protections and damaged public trust in administrative impartiality, attaching protocol lists and social media posts as supporting evidence.

Findings from the Depositions

In response, the NCM convened formal videographed proceedings in Kolkata on October 5, 2026. The Commission directly interviewed all three named officers—Raza, Shamim, and Ahmed.

During their testimony, all three officers refuted the claims, stating that:

* They did not experience religious discrimination or deliberate exclusion from any official functions.
* No orders or directions targeting them based on faith were ever issued.
* The assertions made in the MP’s complaint were factually baseless.

The Commission noted that attempts to contact Moitra to review her evidence or record her statement were unsuccessful, as she was unavailable during the proceedings.

Recommendations and Action Plan

In its official report issued on October 5, signed by the NCM Chairman and Vice Chairman, the panel concluded that the officers’ statements directly contradicted the claims in the petition. The panel highlighted the danger of spreading unverified claims of institutional bias, noting their potential to disrupt communal harmony.

The NCM issued the following directives to the Director General of Police (DGP), West Bengal:

1. Fact-Finding Probe: Assign a law enforcement unit to verify the origin of the complaint and cross-reference official travel logs, protocol records, and meeting minutes.
2. Evidence Retention: Secure all case materials, including video recordings of the officers’ depositions, official documents, and communication logs.
3. Legal Assessment under BNS, 2023: If the investigation reveals the claims were intentionally fabricated or misleading, consider filing a First Information Report (FIR) against the parties responsible under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, regarding false information and public disharmony.

The West Bengal DGP has been asked to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) detailing the progress of the investigation.

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