A professor of chemistry at the Jadavpur University has been arrested over allegedly circulating a cartoon character that defames West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, by email.

The police did not release more details about who received the emails. It only said that he sent derogatory messages against respectable people through email. It is believed that the cartoon was spoof on director Satyajit Ray's film 'Sonar Kella', in which its main characters were substituted with Mamata Banerjee, Railway Minister Mukul Roy and former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. The cartoon spoof took a spat at the recent controversy over rail budget.

Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police for south suburban division, Sujoy Chanda said Professor Ambikesh Mohapatra was arrested for spreading derogatory messages against respectable people. Professor Mohapatra was arrested and was taken to the East Jadavpur Police station today.

According to sources, Subrata Sengupta, a neighbor of Mahapatra was also arrested. The police is charging the two with violations of some sections of the IT Act.

Mukul Roy from Trinamool Congress had joined the country's union cabinet as the railway minister after the resignation of his party colleague Dinesh Trivedi. Roy was sworn in as India's new railway minister following the resignation of Trivedi over his reluctance to roll back in price hikes he introduced as part of the rail budget for the year.