Muslim woman arrested over beef video, sparking debate on selective justice in India
Kolkatta: In a case that has renewed debate over the selective application of laws related to religious sentiments in Modi’s India, a Muslim domestic worker from West Bengal has been arrested after posting a social media video in which she claimed to have cooked beef for senior BJP leader and newly sworn-in state Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the arrest of Jyotsna Bibi, originally from West Bengal’s South Dinajpur district, comes amid continuing disputes over beef consumption and cow-related politics, issues that have increasingly triggered criminal prosecutions and religious tensions across India.
Bibi, who worked as a domestic worker in Gurugram near New Delhi, was arrested over the weekend following complaints that a video uploaded by her had hurt religious sentiments. Police said her mobile phone was seized for forensic examination and an investigation was launched into the matter.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media in which Bibi allegedly stated that she had cooked beef for Suvendu Adhikari and referred to the Eid al-Adha celebrations. Following a complaint lodged by local resident Dinesh Yadav, police registered a criminal case, arrested Bibi and subsequently placed her in judicial custody.
A local court later rejected her bail plea and fixed June 8 for further proceedings in the case.
The arrest comes days after authorities in West Bengal imposed tighter regulations on cattle slaughter during Eid al-Adha, requiring official certification and restricting public slaughter practices.
Although beef consumption remains legal in parts of India, disputes surrounding cattle slaughter have become increasingly politicized over the past decade as Hindutva groups and politicians associated with the BJP have intensified campaigns around cow protection. Civil rights advocates and minority groups have repeatedly argued that cow-related laws and social campaigns have increasingly been used to target Muslims through arrests, mob violence, public intimidation and social pressure.
