"Vous craignez les œufs?" La SC refuse l'appel de Mahua Moitra à comparaître virtuellement dans une affaire concernant une remarque provocatrice

The Supreme Court of India on Friday rejected a request from Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra to appear virtually before the police in connection with a case involving allegedly provocative remarks she made earlier this year. The court did not accept her plea, which sought to allow her to attend a police inquiry remotely due to fears of potential harassment, specifically the throwing of eggs, during her appearance. The ruling came amid ongoing tensions in West Bengal, where political clashes have intensified since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power following state elections in April. In July, an incident occurred at a TMC office in Krishnanagar, West Bengal, where vegetables and eggs were reportedly thrown at the premises while Moitra was inside. She accused members of the BJP of orchestrating the attack. Subsequently, Moitra posted on social media that she intended to file a police complaint against those responsible. In a video, she suggested that individuals wishing to throw eggs at her should wear a burqa to remain concealed. A BJP leader later lodged a complaint against Moitra, claiming her comments had offended the sentiments of the Hindu community. The Calcutta High Court had previously granted Moitra interim protection from arrest until October 5, though it mandated her presence before the investigating officer on August 14. During a recent hearing, Moitra’s counsel, Gopal Sankarnarayan, argued that she had no objection to appearing before the police but requested permission to do so virtually. This request was met with skepticism by the Supreme Court, particularly from Justice Dipankar Datta, who questioned whether an MP should fear such minor threats. “You fear eggs?” Justice Datta remarked, drawing a comparison between the perceived danger of eggs and the risks faced by freedom fighters who endured bullets during India’s independence movement. He further stated that such petitions should not be brought before the court at all. Following this rebuke, Sankarnarayan opted to withdraw the petition, which the court accepted. The incident involving Moitra is part of a broader pattern of attacks on TMC leaders since the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections in May. Earlier in May, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked with eggs and stones during a public event in Sonarpur. Similarly, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that he too was targeted with eggs in the Hooghly district shortly thereafter. Moitra has consistently maintained that the allegations against her are baseless and fabricated. She had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection from coercive police actions and requesting the dismissal of the case registered in Nadia district. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had directed her to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer for questioning. The Supreme Court was considering her challenge to this directive. The Calcutta High Court had also stipulated that no coercive measures be taken against Moitra until October 5, contingent upon her compliance with the court’s conditions and cooperation with the investigation. The case is set to be revisited by the High Court on October 1. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s refusal to entertain Moitra’s plea underscores its stance on the importance of adhering to legal procedures and the necessity for political figures to engage directly with law enforcement processes.