The Calcutta high court on Monday stayed an arrest warrant issued against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra by a court in Krishnanagar in West Bengal’s Nadia district on August 19.
“A division bench of the Calcutta high court stayed the arrest warrant against Moitra till August 31. The matter will be heard by the bench again on August 27,” Arka Kumar Nag, who appeared for the TMC MP, said.
Moitra moved the high court after the Krishnanagar court issued a warrant against her last week for skipping court summons.
A case was filed against Moitra alleging that she allegedly made derogatory remarks against the Union home minister, armed forces and Hindu religious beliefs and symbols following which the Krishnanagar court issued pre-cognisance summons to her.
The third Judicial Magistrate of Krishnanagar court ordered on August 19 that an arrest warrant be issued against her after noting that she had repeatedly skipped summons.
The magistrate also directed that a report on execution of the arrest warrant be submitted before the court on August 28.
Moitra had earlier told that media that she could not attend the court on August 4 and 12 because she was attending Parliament sessions. The court directed her to appear on August 18, when she was still in Delhi and her lawyer sought an exemption from personal appearance.
Moitra said the court directed her to appear in person the following morning. Her lawyer at the time sought a decision on the exemption plea, but the court issued the arrest warrant.
