Alipore Court Orders TMC MP Mahua Moitra to Cease Defamatory Posts
The Alipore court has prohibited Mahua Moitra from labeling Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal as 'vote chor' and ordered the deletion of her posts.
Court restrains Mahua Moitra from making defamatory statements against Manoj Agarwal.
Moitra must delete posts within 24 hours or face further legal action.
Next hearing scheduled for January 5, 2027.
An Alipore court has issued a directive preventing Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra from posting any defamatory remarks against West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal. This ruling comes in response to Moitra's allegations regarding the deletion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, specifically her use of the term 'vote chor' (vote thief).
The court's order mandates that Moitra, along with her agents and representatives, refrain from publishing, sharing, or repeating any defamatory statements about Agarwal. The court specifically referenced two posts dated October 3 and October 6, 2026, which included accusations against Agarwal of illegal actions that disenfranchised voters. The ruling allows for fair criticism of the SIR process but prohibits derogatory terms directed at Agarwal.
Manoj Agarwal, who previously served as the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal, initiated legal action against Moitra after she made her statements on social media. On October 9, he issued a legal notice demanding an unconditional apology and ₹10 crore in damages for defamation. Following this, Agarwal sought the court's intervention.
The court has granted Agarwal the right to inform the social media platform X about its interim order, enabling the removal of Moitra's posts if she does not comply within the stipulated 24 hours. This enforcement is in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The case is set for further proceedings on January 5, 2027, where additional developments may unfold regarding the allegations and the court's directives.
