Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday granted interim protection against coercive action to Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra in cases lodged against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments but directed her to appear on Aug 14, with Parliament monsoon session ending on Aug 13.Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya granted the interim protection “provided” Moitra cooperates with the investigation. Her counsel moved the single bench, pleading to appear through virtual mode, but the plea was rejected by the HC.Police sent Moitra four summonses over the last month, following which the MP moved the court alleging the FIRs were “mala fide”, stating that while her complaints against a mob pelting eggs at her and keeping her under virtual siege were ignored, a counter FIR was filed.“Eggs were thrown at her, she condemned the anonymity and asked them to face her instead of hiding in the crowd. It was alleged later that she insulted Hindu girls,” her counsel argued in court on Tuesday.Countering this, advocate general Surajit Nath Mitra submitted that when the first notice was sent, Moitra did not turn up. He said that her defence was that the summons was pasted outside an under-construction site, which was not her address. According to the AG, however, the investigation revealed that the address was in her name and not an under-construction building.
