India, Aug. 14 -- Even as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose humiliation row threatened to snowball into a major controversy, the Bengal Government on Thursday moved swiftly, stripping the prestigious Banga Bibhushan Award from Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj for his "derogatory remarks" against the iconic freedom fighter.

This even as one person from Islampur in North Bengal was on Thursday arrested following stern warning by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, asking people to withdraw derogatory posts from the Net. The Award was withdrawn following a notification from the State Information and Culture Department cancelling the honour.

The Government notification read: "The Government of West Bengal hereby withdraws and annuls the Banga Bibhus...