The channel in question — Ekhon Somoy — is owned by noted painter Suvaprasanna, who is known for his closeness to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee and also heads the Railways Passenger Amenities Committee.

The programme that sparked the controversy was a panel discussion on the Jnaneswari disaster telacast on May 28 as prt of the channel’s test runs. On the show, Trinamool leader Purnendu Bose accused the CPM of triggering off the sabotage.

In reaction, Bengali documentary film maker Anindita Sarbadhikari lodged an FIR, following which the chief minister reportedly gave the green signal to hold an inquiry in the matter.

“Such an allegation was labelled against the CPM even when the Maoists were under suspicion. This could have had a serious impact on the state’s law and order,” said Sarbadhikari, known for her pronounced Left leanings. Sarbadhikari had filmed a couple of documentary films during the Singur and Nandigram agitation and the CPM-led Left Front had ordered about 10,000 CDs of the same for distribution before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

Claiming that Bose made the statement without evidence, Sarbadhikari lodged a complaint with IGP (Law and Order).

The police visited the Salt Lake office of the channel in Sector-V and interrogated mediapersons, said Shankudeb Ponda, Ekhon Somoy editor.

“The police interrogated me on the programme we had telecast. Since then, we have seen a group of plainclothes policemen deployed outside our office,” added Ponda.

Accusing the government of trying to demoralise the spirit of the channel by framing cases, Ponda said: “We feel everyone has the right to express their political views.”

At the centre of controversy, Bose, meanwhile, said: “I have heard about the complaint. But since I have not received any official letter, I cannot comment.”