Krishnanagar (Nadia): A court in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Wednesday ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in connection with an alleged hate speech case, after she repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite multiple summonses.
The order was passed by the Third Judicial Magistrate at the Krishnanagar court, Dibyendu Das, after noting that Moitra had not complied with directions to appear in person on successive occasions, including a fresh appearance date set for Wednesday. “The series of disobedience of the order of this court… goes to show the lackadaisical approach of the accused to comply with the court order and accordingly this court is left with no other option but to issue a warrant of arrest against her,” the court observed. It has directed police to submit an execution report on the warrant by August 28.
The case stems from a petition filed by five women before the third judicial magistrate’s court on June 12, alleging that Moitra made derogatory remarks hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community, including objectionable comments about the tulsi mala, considered sacred by devotees. The complaint, registered at Nadia’s Ghurmi police station, invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to insulting the modesty of a woman, promoting enmity between groups, outraging religious feelings, criminal intimidation and hate speech. According to the petition, Moitra had also made remarks against the Union Home Minister and Indian Army personnel on various occasions. “Moitra, a politically and socially influential person, made statements and comments against the Union Home Minister, personnel of the Indian armed forces, and certain religious beliefs and symbols revered by members of the Hindu community on different occasions,” the petition stated.
Krishnanagar Superintendent of Police Atul V. confirmed that the warrant had been formally issued following the court’s order. “As per the court’s order, we have officially issued it today,” he said.
The development comes days after Moitra alleged she was asked to vacate the Nadia Circuit House late at night on August 14, shortly after receiving a room allotment, tea and dinner as per protocol. She has since filed a privilege notice before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against three Nadia district officials, accusing them of violating parliamentary protocol. District authorities have maintained that the eviction request was linked to a pre-scheduled annual maintenance and cleaning order issued on August 12.