Why fear eggs, freedom fighters took bullets: SC jabs Mahua Moitra, rejects plea

The Supreme Court declined to entertain Mahua Moitra's plea against a police appearance order in a hate speech case. The bench questioned her fears of egg attacks, after which her counsel withdrew the petition.

In Short

• SC rejects Mahua Moitra's plea to avoid police appearance in hate speech case
• Questions Moitra's fear of egg attacks, citing freedom fighters' sacrifices
• TMC MP's lawyer sought virtual appearance citing past egg-throwing incidents

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra's plea challenging a Calcutta High Court order directing her to appear before police in a hate speech case, with the bench questioning her concerns that eggs may be thrown at her.

Following the BJP coming to power in Bengal following the Assembly polls in April, several Trinamool leaders, including Moitra and Abhishek Banerjee, have been subjected to being attacked with eggs.

During the hearing today, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said it was not inclined to interfere with the High Court's order after Moitra's lawyer submitted that she had a legal right to appear virtually before the police.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan, appearing for the Trinamool MP, told the court that the police notice required her to appear at a police station in her constituency and referred to incidents during her previous visits.

"The requirement, as per the police's notice, is to be at the police station in my own constituency. Last time I went there, two things happened. First there were threats that eggs would be thrown etc. and second time eggs were actually thrown," he said.

The bench questioned Moitra's apprehension, and said, "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," it added.

With the top court making it clear that it was not inclined to entertain the plea, Moitra's counsel withdrew the petition.

The matter was subsequently dismissed as withdrawn.

The Calcutta High Court had on July 21 granted Moitra interim protection from coercive action until October 5 in the hate speech case, which the Krishnanagar MP has claimed is based on fabricated charges.

Moitra had approached the High Court seeking protection from coercive police action and dismissing proceedings in the case registered in Nadia district.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had directed Moitra to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer for questioning.

The Supreme Court was dealing with her challenge to the direction to appear before police.

The High Court had also directed that no coercive steps be taken against her until October 5, subject to her complying with the conditions imposed by the court and cooperating with the probe.

The matter is scheduled to be heard again by the High Court on October 1.

- Ends
(With PTI inputs)