ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2026, the Supreme Court of India questioned Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her request to appear virtually before the investigating officer in a criminal case related to an alleged provocative Facebook post. A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu refused to entertain her plea, directing her to follow the Calcutta High Court’s order and appear before the investigating officer.

The Supreme Court refuses Mahua Moitra’s request to appear virtually and asked whether it was because she is a Member of Parliament. Justice Datta said, “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.”

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What Did the Supreme Court Say to Mahua Moitra?

Moitra had earlier approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the cancellation of an FIR filed against her following a complaint by a BJP leader over two videos she posted on social media. On July 21, 2026, the High Court granted her interim protection from arrest but directed her to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer on August 14, 2026.

The High Court took into account that Moitra would be occupied with the Monsoon Session of Parliament until August 13 and therefore directed her to appear before the investigating officer the following day. The case concerns allegations that her social media posts hurt religious sentiments.

Before the Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Moitra, said she had concerns about facing a possible mob attack and egg-pelting if she appeared at the police station. The court questioned her request to appear virtually, asking, “Why virtually? Because you are an MP?”

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Sankaranarayanan argued that Moitra had a legal right to seek protection and referred to previous incidents in which she had faced threats of egg-pelting. He said, “I have a legal right under law. The requirement as per the police notice is to be at the police station in my own constituency. Last time I went there, two things happened. First there were threats that eggs will be thrown etc…and second time, eggs were actually thrown,” he submitted.

The lawyer further said that the case was related to a Facebook post and requested that Moitra be allowed to appear before the investigating officer through video conferencing. However, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the Calcutta High Court’s order requiring her to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer.

Following the court’s observations, Sankaranarayanan sought permission to withdraw the plea. The Supreme Court allowed the request and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

(Edited by Harsh Pandey)

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