A court in West Bengal’s Nadia district has ordered an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in connection with an alleged hate speech case.
The Krishnanagar court took the step after Moitra reportedly failed to appear despite repeated summonses directing her to participate in the proceedings. The court has also directed that a report on the execution of the warrant be submitted on August 28.
Court Cites Repeated Non-Compliance
The warrant was issued by the 3rd Judicial Magistrate at Krishnanagar after the court noted that Moitra had not complied with earlier directions to appear.
The case involves allegations that the TMC MP made offensive remarks against women and delivered a speech that was alleged to constitute hate speech. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings and have not been established as guilt.
Legal Dispute Has Been Ongoing
The latest development comes after several rounds of legal proceedings involving Moitra and the investigation.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had granted her interim protection from coercive action while directing her to cooperate with the investigation. She was also asked to appear before the investigating officer.
The Supreme Court subsequently declined to entertain her plea challenging an order requiring her to appear before police in connection with the case. Her counsel withdrew the petition after the court indicated that it would not interfere with the High Court’s directions.
Warrant Execution Report Due on August 28
The Nadia court has now directed authorities to carry out the arrest warrant and submit an execution report by August 28.
The latest order adds a new legal development to the case, with the court taking a stricter view of the repeated non-appearance.
Political and Legal Attention
The case has attracted considerable political attention because Moitra is a sitting Lok Sabha MP and a prominent opposition leader.
The immediate focus will now be on the execution of the court’s warrant and the next legal steps available to Moitra. The proceedings will determine how the case moves forward and whether further relief is sought before a higher court.
