New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing her to appear before police in connection with a hate speech case. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu indicated it was not inclined to interfere with the High Court’s order after senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Moitra, argued that she had a legal right to join the investigation virtually instead of appearing in person.
The counsel told the court that the police notice required Moitra to appear at a police station in her Krishnanagar constituency, where she had previously faced hostility. He said that during one visit, threats were made that eggs would be thrown at her, and on another occasion, the threats were carried out. Responding to the submission, the bench remarked that such apprehensions could not justify avoiding a physical appearance before investigators.
“You are a Member of Parliament.
Having taken the plunge into politics, you fear eggs? When our freedom fighters have taken bullets on their chest? These are applications that should not come before this court at all,” the judges observed. After the bench made it clear that it was unwilling to grant relief, Moitra’s counsel sought permission to withdraw the petition. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed the plea as withdrawn.
The case stems from a July 21 order of the Calcutta High Court, which granted Moitra interim protection from coercive action until October 5 in the hate speech case registered in Nadia district. While refusing to quash the proceedings at this stage, the High Court directed the Krishnanagar MP to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer for questioning.
