Kolkata, July 22: The Calcutta High Court‘s single bench granted interim protection to Mahua Moitra, the Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar in Nadia district, from strict police action, including arrest. She is accused of making statements that allegedly incite violence.
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya provided this relief until October 5. The judge stipulated that this protection is conditional upon Moitra fully cooperating with the police during the investigation. He instructed the police to inform the court if she refuses to cooperate.
Justice Bhattacharya noted that if found guilty of the charges against her, Moitra could face up to seven years in prison. Therefore, while the police may continue their investigation, they cannot take any stringent action against her until October 5.
On Tuesday, the state government’s lawyer and Advocate General Surjit Nath Mitra informed the court that Moitra had been sent four notices but failed to appear for questioning, citing her busy schedule in Parliament.
Mitra stated, “The MP has been summoned before. Despite receiving the notices, she did not appear.”
After hearing the arguments, Justice Bhattacharya clarified that the protection would remain in place until October 5, but if Moitra does not cooperate, the state must notify the court.
During the hearing, Moitra’s lawyer argued that she was called by the police regarding her response to an attack involving eggs, and therefore, she should be allowed to communicate with the police virtually.
Justice Bhattacharya emphasized that the police must ensure no unpleasant situation arises during her appearance at the police station.
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