Click the Play button to listen to article

A Civil Court in Alipore, has restrained Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra from newly publishing, reposting, sharing or repeating allegedly defamatory statements against Manoj Agarwal, including remarks accusing him of being a “Vote Chor” and of being responsible for illegally disenfranchising voters in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Civil Judge (Senior Division), First Court, Alipore, passed an ex parte ad-interim injunction on Agarwal's plea, directing Moitra to delete two posts published on her X account, @MahuaMoitra, on October 3 and October 6, 2026, within 24 hours of receiving the order.

The court restrained Moitra, her agents, servants and all persons acting on her behalf from making fresh publications of the impugned statements on any platform. The statements specifically covered by the order include allegations that Agarwal “committed every illegality”, was “singularly responsible” for illegally disenfranchising voters, or acted at the behest of a “maalik”.

However, the court clarified that the injunction would not prevent fair criticism of the SIR exercise or of any official decision.

The court further directed that, should Moitra fail to remove the two posts within the stipulated period, Agarwal would be at liberty to communicate the order to X Corp. and its Grievance Officer for action under Rule 3(1)(d) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, read with Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The order also requires Agarwal to serve Moitra with copies of the plaint, injunction application, affidavit and supporting documents in accordance with Order XXXIX Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure, within 24 hours of the order being passed.

The court clarified that its observations were based on a prima facie assessment for the limited purpose of deciding the interim application and would not bind the court at the subsequent hearing or trial.

Moitra has been given the liberty to file her written objections and supporting materials. She may also apply under Order XXXIX Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure for discharge, variation or setting aside of the injunction.

The ad-interim order is to remain in force until further orders, subject to the date specified by the court. The matter has been listed for January 5, 2027, for service-related compliance, filing of written objections and hearing of the application for temporary injunction.

Background

The injunction proceedings arise from two posts published by Moitra on X on October 3 and October 6, 2026, concerning Agarwal and the SIR exercise. The court's order identifies the allegedly defamatory statements covered by the injunction and directs their removal pending further consideration of the application.

The findings are prima facie and confined to the interim stage; the court has expressly stated that they will not bind it when the temporary injunction application is heard or at trial.

Tags: