Trinamool Congress (TMC) firebrand MP Mahua Moitra has received a major setback from the Supreme Court. On Friday, the Supreme Court flatly rejected her demand to appear before the police virtually, i.e. through video conferencing, in a criminal case related to a controversial social media post. During the hearing in the court, when Moitra’s lawyer expressed the fear of being pelted with eggs and mob attack by the mob if she went to the police station, the Supreme Court bench made a strict remark saying that a politician has no need to be afraid of such cases.
“Why are you afraid of eggs when you enter politics?”: Supreme Court’s stern remark
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu expressed their displeasure in very strong words while hearing Mahua Moitra’s petition. According to a Bar & Bench report, during the hearing, Justice Datta sharply questioned, “You are an MP? After entering politics, are you afraid of eggs? Our country’s freedom fighters took British bullets on their chests. Such strange petitions should not even come before the court.” This blunt stance of the court made it clear that public representatives holding constitutional positions must go to the grassroots level to face the legal process.
What is the whole matter and why is politics heated up?
This entire legal dispute dates back to June this year, when an FIR was filed against the TMC MP based on a complaint by a local BJP leader. It was alleged that Mahua Moitra had made inflammatory comments in two videos she shared on social media platforms. The controversy escalated when alleged BJP supporters protested outside a court complex in Krishnanagar, carrying tomatoes and eggs. Mahua Moitra’s senior lawyer, Gopal Shankarnarayanan, argued in the Supreme Court that his client has a legal right to appear at the police station in her constituency, but she was threatened and pelted with eggs last time, so she should be allowed to participate in the investigation via video conferencing.
Citing the order of the Calcutta High Court, the petition was withdrawn.
The Supreme Court appeared completely unconvinced by the arguments of Mahua Moitra’s lawyers. The court stated unequivocally that the Calcutta High Court had already directed her to cooperate fully with the investigating agency. The Supreme Court sternly stated that she must appear before the investigating officer as per the High Court’s order, or face serious consequences. Sensing this tough stance from the Supreme Court, Mahua Moitra’s lawyers ultimately requested permission to withdraw their petition, after which the Supreme Court dismissed the petition as withdrawn.