A Kolkata court has restrained Mamata AITC MP Mahua Moitra from making “any defamatory statement” against West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal after he complained that she made unsubstantiated allegations against him in connection with SIR.
The Civil Judge, Senior Division, 1st Court, Alipore, on Wednesday also directed the Krishnanagar MP to delete her social media posts against Agarwal related to the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and the conduct of this year’s West Bengal assembly elections within 24 hours of receiving the order.
The court, however, clarified that this order will not “restrain fair criticism of the SIR or of any official decision”.
In an ex parte interim order, the court restrained Moitra from publishing, posting, or repeating “any defamatory statement” against Agarwal, including any statement connected to two posts in question which she allegedly made on her X on October 3 and 6. Moitra, however, said on Thursday she will file a vacating application to reinforce her rights. The judge directed the MP to delete the posts from her social media handle within 24 hours of receiving the order, including receipt by e-mail.
The court directed that notice be issued to Moitra to show cause why the interim order should not continue until the disposal of Agarwal’s application.
The court said the interim order will remain in force until January 5, 2027, when it will hear the matter again.
Permitting Moitra to file her written objection with all material she relies upon, the judge further directed that the MP may apply under the relevant rules for discharge, variation, or setting aside of this order.
The 1990-batch IAS officer moved the Alipore court seeking an interim injunction against Moitra, restraining him from publishing, posting, or sharing any defamatory statement or comment against him.
Agarwal, who was appointed chief secretary of West Bengal after the BJP came to power in May, had served as the state’s chief electoral officer before that.
The court noted that Agarwal held the office of chief electoral officer under the West Bengal government from April 3, 2025 to May 11, 2026 and “was working under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission of India”.
Claiming that Moitra made unsubstantiated claims in her social media posts about his role in the SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal, Agarwal stated that the CEO has no power to delete or add any name on his own.