The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra. During the hearing, Judge Dipankar Datta asked why one is afraid of eggs after entering politics, when freedom fighters who fought for the country took bullets on their chests. Following the court’s comment, leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protested and demanded the judge’s resignation.
This case relates to a criminal case filed against All India Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over a Facebook post. On July 21st, the Calcutta High Court granted Moitra relief from punitive action until October 5th in the hate speech case and directed her to appear before the investigating officer on August 14th. Moitra claims this case is fabricated.
Request to appear online
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appeared on behalf of Mahua Moitra in the Supreme Court. He requested that MP Moitra be allowed to appear before the investigating officer virtually instead of in person. The lawyer informed the court that the last time she visited the police station in her constituency, eggs were thrown at her and she faces the risk of being targeted by a mob.
The case was being heard by a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu. The court refused to grant relief, remarking, “You are a Member of Parliament. Why are you afraid of eggs after entering politics, when our freedom fighters took bullets to their chests?” The lawyer then withdrew the petition, and the court dismissed it.
Sourav Das’s protest
Following this comment, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das reacted on social media, asking whether judges want Mahua Moitra to take pills. He demanded judicial accountability. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said that if anything happens to Mahua Moitra, Justice Dipankar Datta’s bench will be responsible, and such judges should resign or face impeachment. CJP founder Abhijit Dipke also questioned whether the Supreme Court now wants everyone to take pills. He said that when judges make such statements, the common man’s chances of getting justice diminish.