Calcutta HC Quashes Mahua Moitra Arrest Warrant, Transfers Case To Bidhannagar Court
Calcutta HC quashes Moitra’s warrant and transfers her case.
The Calcutta High Court on Monday quashed an arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by a court in West Bengal’s Nadia district. A division bench headed by Justice Debangshu Basak also transferred the related case from the Krishnanagar district court to the MP-MLA court at Bidhannagar in North 24 Parganas district.
The High Court also set aside other related orders passed by the Krishnanagar District Court in the case. The proceedings concern allegations against Moitra over controversial and allegedly insulting remarks about the Indian Army and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Her comments concerning women wearing tulsi wood necklaces, burqas and hijabs had also become part of the controversy.
A resident of Krishnanagar had filed a complaint against the Krishnanagar MP under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Moitra was accused of allegedly degrading the modesty of women, inciting conflict between different religious groups, hurting religious sentiments and intimidating people through her remarks.
Also Read: Mahua Moitra Gets High Court Relief As Arrest Warrant Remains Stayed In Case
The Krishnanagar court had summoned Moitra several times in connection with the case. After she did not appear before the court, an arrest warrant was issued against her. Moitra subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the warrant, and the High Court had already stayed its implementation during an earlier hearing.
During the proceedings, Moitra’s counsel Ark Nag had questioned whether the Krishnanagar court had jurisdiction to hear the case, given that she is a sitting Member of Parliament. He argued that the matter should instead be heard by the designated MP-MLA court at Bidhannagar.
The division bench accepted the argument on jurisdiction and transferred the case to the Bidhannagar MP-MLA court while quashing the arrest warrant and other related orders issued by the Krishnanagar court. The order provides relief to Moitra from the warrant while allowing the underlying case to continue before the designated court.
Also Read: Mahua Moitra Gets High Court Relief As Arrest Warrant Remains Stayed In Case
