Calcutta High Court Stays Arrest Warrant Against TMC MP Mahua Moitra In Hate Speech Case

The Calcutta High Court on Monday stayed the arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by a Krishnanagar court in connection with an alleged hate speech case.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Aryak Dutta directed that no coercive action be taken against Moitra pursuant to the warrant. The High Court is scheduled to hear her challenge to the warrant on August 27.

The warrant had been issued by the Third Judicial Magistrate at Krishnanagar, Dibyendu Das, after Moitra repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite summonses issued in the case.

The Magistrate had directed that the warrant be issued immediately and had called for an execution report to be submitted on August 28.

The proceedings relate to a complaint alleging objectionable remarks by Moitra, including allegations concerning insult to women and delivery of hate speeches. The case followed the issuance of pre-cognisance summonses to the TMC MP.

While issuing the warrant, the Krishnanagar court had taken serious exception to Moitra's repeated non-appearance.

"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 Magistrate had observed.

Moitra subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the warrant.

The High Court's order now provides her interim protection from arrest until the matter is taken up for hearing on August 27.

The latest proceedings are separate from another case involving alleged objectionable remarks in which Moitra had earlier approached the High Court. In July, the High Court had granted her interim protection from coercive action in that matter while directing her to cooperate with the investigation. The protection in that case was stated to continue till October 5.

The High Court's present order, however, concerns the arrest warrant issued by the Krishnanagar court on account of her alleged failure to appear pursuant to summonses.

The matter will next come up before the Division Bench on August 27, when the court is expected to consider Moitra's challenge to the warrant.