The Calcutta High Court has issued a stay on an arrest warrant against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, initially issued by a trial court in connection with an alleged hate speech case. The case, known as Mahua Moitra v State of West Bengal and Others, involved a complaint filed before a court in Krishnanagar.
A bench consisting of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Aryak Dutt granted the stay following Moitra’s petition to quash the complaint. The High Court’s order specifies that, “Until September 30, 2026, or until further orders, the police will not execute the arrest warrant issued against the petitioner on August 19, 2026.”
The warrant had been issued after Moitra failed to appear in court on the specified date. The High Court pointed out the necessity to consider the jurisdictional authority of the court that issued the warrant against Moitra. This jurisdictional issue is a focal point in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Moitra’s legal team argued that she was unable to attend the June 18 proceedings due to a resolution passed by the local bar association. Furthermore, they contended that the complaint case was being handled by a court lacking the appropriate jurisdiction to hear it. The allegations against Moitra include making remarks deemed objectionable and insulting, particularly towards women.
The legal representation for Moitra was handled by Advocates Debasish Roy, Arka Kumar Nag, Soham De Dhara, Suvam Das, and Akash Ghosh. The State’s representation included Public Prosecutor Kallol Mondal, along with Advocates Pawan Gupta and Anamitra Banerjee.
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The High Court’s decision to stay the arrest warrant provides a temporary relief for Moitra, pending further judicial review. The case underscores the complexities involved in jurisdictional issues and the procedural nuances of handling complaints related to alleged hate speech.
