Calcutta HC to hear Mahua Moitra’s plea in alleged hate speech case on Wednesday

The Calcutta High Court will hear on Wednesday Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's petition seeking protection from coercive police action, permission for virtual questioning, and interim relief in connection with an alleged hate speech case arising from a social media post

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court will on Wednesday hear a petition by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in an alleged hate speech case. Moitra prayed before the court for an interim order preventing coercive police action in the case, and requested to be questioned via video conferencing.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said he will hear the petition on Wednesday and asked Moitra’s lawyer to serve notice to the state respondents.

---

Her lawyer stated that despite being a woman parliamentarian, she was subjected to egg pelting by people hiding their faces when she recently went to a court in Nadia district, and protested against it.

He also submitted that Moitra was alleged to have made a social media post stating that those who hid their faces should wear burqas. The lawyer stated that this was construed as hate speech, implying she asked Hindus to wear them, leading to a case being lodged against her.

Stating that she was being served with notices repeatedly by the police to appear for questioning, Moitra’s lawyer expressed apprehension that she might be arrested if she went to the police station for interrogation in connection with the case.