Supreme Court Refuses Mahua Moitra's Plea To Join Facebook Post Probe Virtually, Says 'Having Entered Politics, You Fear Eggs?'

Home / Top Stories Supreme Court Refuses Mahua Moitra's Plea To Join Facebook Post Probe Virtually, Says 'Having Entered Politics, You Fear Eggs?' X The Supreme Court declined to entertain TMC MP Mahua Moitra's plea seeking permission to appear virtually before the Investigating Officer in an FIR over an alleged provocative Facebook post The Supreme Court declined to entertain Mahua Moitra's request to join the investigation virtually, observing that she could pursue remedies before the Calcutta High Court and later dismissed the plea as withdrawn The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra seeking permission to appear virtually before the Investigating Officer in connection with an FIR registered over an alleged provocative Facebook post. The Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu refused to grant the relief after questioning the necessity of virtual appearance when the investigation required her physical presence. Appearing for Moitra, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankarnarayanan submitted that the FIR stemmed from a Facebook post and sought permission for his client to join the investigation through video conferencing. When the Bench asked why she could not appear before the Investigating Officer in person, Sankarnarayanan argued that Moitra was legally entitled to seek virtual appearance. He further submitted that the police had directed her to appear at a police station within her parliamentary constituency, where she had previously faced protests. According to the senior counsel, during an earlier visit, threats had been made that eggs would be thrown at her, and on a subsequent occasion, eggs were in fact hurled. The Bench, however, was unimpressed. Justice Datta remarked that having entered public life and politics, an elected Member of Parliament (MP) could not seek exemption from appearing before the investigating agency merely because of the possibility of protests. He further observed that freedom fighters had faced bullets in the struggle for independence and remarked that such applications ought not to reach the Supreme Court. "You are a member of parliament? Having taken the plunge into politics, you fear eggs? When our freedom fighters have taken bullets on their chest? These are applications that should not come before this court at all. Dismissed," Justice Datta said. The Bench also pointed out that the petitioner had an adequate remedy before the High Court, referring to paragraph 19 of the impugned order and observing that if she chose not to appear before the Investigating Officer, she would have to face the consequences before the High Court. Subsequently, Sankarnarayanan sought permission to withdraw the petition. The Supreme Court accordingly dismissed the plea as withdrawn . What happened before the High Court Case Title: Mahua Moitra v. The State of West Bengal and Ors. Bench: Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu Hearing Date: August 7, 2026