Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court Thursday extended interim protection from coercive action, including arrest, for Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in a case in which she has been accused of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community.
While extending interim protection until January 29 next year, a single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ruled that the investigation against Moitra will continue under the law. Justice Bhattacharyya also directed the Krishnanagar MP to cooperate fully with the investigating officer during the probe.
The next hearing has been scheduled January 13.
The case stems from a complaint lodged against Mahua Moitra after the Assembly elections earlier this year. As per the complaint, Moitra is alleged to have made offensive comments that hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community during a live broadcast on Facebook June 15.
The next day, Hirak Bhattacharya, general secretary of BJP’s Karimpur Mandal-4 block in Nadia district, filed a written complaint with the Hogalberia Police Station against her. Based on that, police registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
Moitra challenged the FIR in the Calcutta High Court in July this year. Justice Bhattacharyya’s bench granted her interim protection till October 5. Now, Thursday, the same interim protection has been extended till January 29.
In a separate matter, the court also ordered the continuation of security arrangements provided to Moitra following an alleged egg attack on her during a visit to her parliamentary constituency. The protection will remain in place until November 30.
As per an earlier order, two police personnel will continue to escort the MP during her visits to the constituency.
However, the cases related to the egg attack are currently pending in the Division Bench headed by the Calcutta Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge. Hence, Justice Bhattacharyya recused himself from further hearing in the matter Thursday.
