The Calcutta High Court on Thursday extended interim protection to Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, shielding her from any coercive action in a hate‑speech case until 29 January 2027.
Advocate General Surojit Nath Mitra, representing the West Bengal government, filed a report stating that Moitra appeared at the Hogalberia police station in Nadia district on 14 August and answered the investigators' questions as previously directed. The report added that the probe into the alleged hate speech remains ongoing.
During the hearing, Moitra's counsel asserted that she was not subjected to egg‑pelting when she visited the police station on 14 August, contrary to earlier claims that she faced such attacks each time she travelled to her Krishnanagar constituency.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, after hearing both sides, ordered that the interim protection remain in force until 29 January 2027 and scheduled the next hearing for 13 January. The petition filed by the Krishnanagar MP seeks to quash the criminal proceedings registered at Hogalberia police station, arguing that the allegations are fabricated and motivated.
In a prior order dated 21 July, Justice Bhattacharyya had already granted Moitra temporary protection, directing her to appear before the investigating officer on 14 August for questioning. That order also barred any coercive steps against her until 5 October, subject to compliance with stipulated conditions, and specifically instructed police to prevent any egg‑pelting incidents during her appearance.
Image: Wikipedia — Mahua Moitra
📰 Source: Sahil Online