Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Sep 7: The Calcutta High Court on Monday quashed an arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Krishnanagar 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 bench further quashed other related orders passed by the Krishnanagar District Court in the case.

Moitra had been accused of making controversial and allegedly insulting remarks about the Indian Army and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Some of her comments concerning women wearing tulsi wood necklaces, burqa and hijab had also triggered controversy.

A Krishnanagar resident had filed a complaint against the MP under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

The complaint accused Moitra of degrading the modesty of women, inciting conflict between religious groups, hurting religious sentiments and intimidating people.

The Krishnanagar court had summoned Moitra several times. However, after she failed to appear, the court issued an arrest warrant against her.

Moitra subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the warrant. During an earlier hearing, the High Court had stayed its implementation.

On Monday, the division bench quashed the warrant and transferred the case to the MP-MLA court.

Moitra’s counsel Ark Nag had earlier questioned whether the Krishnanagar court had jurisdiction to hear the case, arguing that as a sitting MP, the matter should be heard by the designated MP-MLA court. The division bench accepted the contention.