Calcutta High Court stays arrest warrant against TMC MP Mahua Moitra

The Calcutta High Court on Monday stayed an arrest warrant issued against TMC MP Mahua Moitra by a Krishnanagar court for failing to appear before it.

A division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Aryak Dutt directed that the matter be taken up again on August 27, when it will hear the complainant in the case before the Nadia district court, where Moitra has been accused of insulting women and making hate speeches.

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The bench stayed the arrest warrant against Moitra till further orders.

Moitra's lawyer Arko Kumar Nag told the court that since the alleged speeches and filing of complaints against her took place as an MP, the case should be heard by the designated MP/MLA court in Salt Lake.

He also submitted that the allegations were baseless and frivolous and that the contents of the complaint did not constitute a criminal offence.

A case was filed against Moitra alleging that she had insulted women and made hate speeches, following which the Krishnanagar court issued pre-cognisance summons to her.

The Third Judicial Magistrate at Krishnanagar, noting that Moitra had failed to appear despite repeated summons, ordered on August 19 that an arrest warrant be issued against her.

The magistrate had directed that a report on execution of the arrest warrant be submitted before the court on August 28.