Kolkata Court Orders MP Mahua Moitra to Remove Defamatory Posts

A court in Kolkata has instructed Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra to delete two posts from her X account that accused West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal of being a 'vote chor' within 24 hours. The ruling was issued on Thursday and also imposed restrictions on Moitra from making similar statements in the future.

Manoj Kumar Agarwal, who was formerly the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, has faced scrutiny over his role during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which is being conducted in preparation for the upcoming 2026 state assembly elections.

The court mandate requires Moitra to remove posts dated October 3 and October 6, in which she made allegations against Agarwal. In the October 3 post, she stated, "2 biggest architects of Bengal SIR - committed every illegality under the planet. Subrata Kaku & Manoj Uncle - watch out. India is coming for you next. Bachh nahi paoge.” The subsequent post on October 6 labeled Agarwal a 'vote chor' and claimed he was accountable for disenfranchising many registered Bengali voters.

The court's order includes a prohibition on Moitra and her representatives from republishing, sharing, or repeating any of the allegedly defamatory remarks across any platform. The statement also noted that Moitra's allegations suggested that Agarwal acted under the influence of a higher authority, referred to as a 'maalik.'

In response to the ruling, Moitra announced via X that she plans to file a vacating application in order to assert her right to make such accusations against Agarwal.

Manoj Kumar Agarwal has received mixed reviews regarding his overseeing of the electoral process in West Bengal. While acknowledged for implementing a largely violence-free assembly election, he has also been criticised for significant voter disenfranchisement during the electoral roll revision under his supervision.

Agarwal became the Chief Secretary after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government in West Bengal in May 2021. Moitra's posts reflect ongoing tensions within the political landscape of West Bengal, particularly regarding electoral integrity and governance.

These developments underscore the contentious nature of political statements in India, as well as the judiciary's role in adjudicating disputes arising from personal and political accusations.