Calcutta HC extends Mahua Moitra's arrest protection till January 29 in religious sentiments case
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has pushed Mahua Moitra's shield from arrest to 29 January 2027, keeping the TMC MP — already under political fire — out of custody while investigators continue probing her alleged Facebook remarks on religious sentiments. With a recusal, a separate egg-attack case, and a January hearing looming, the legal web around one of India's most combative opposition figures is tightening.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court extended Mahua Moitra's interim protection from arrest until 29 January 2027 on 1 October 2026 .
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya directed the Krishnanagar MP to cooperate fully with the investigating officer.
The case stems from an alleged Facebook live broadcast on 15 June in which Moitra is accused of making remarks that hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community.
BJP's Hirak Bhattacharya filed the complaint at Hogalberia Police Station in Nadia district .
A separate security order protecting Moitra following an alleged egg attack has been extended until 30 November , with two police escorts continuing.
The next court hearing is scheduled for 13 January ; Justice Bhattacharyya recused himself from the egg-attack matter.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 1 October 2026, extended interim protection from coercive action — including arrest — for Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in a case where she stands accused of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community. The protection now runs until 29 January 2027.
What the Court Ordered
A single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya granted the extension while making clear that the investigation against Moitra will proceed under the law. Justice Bhattacharyya additionally directed the Krishnanagar MP to cooperate fully with the investigating officer throughout the probe. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for 13 January.
Background: The FIR and the Facebook Broadcast
The case has its roots in a complaint filed following the Assembly elections earlier this year. According to the complaint, Moitra allegedly made offensive remarks during a live broadcast on Facebook on 15 June that were deemed hurtful to a specific religious community. The following day, Hirak Bhattacharya, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Karimpur Mandal-4 block in Nadia district, lodged a written complaint with Hogalberia Police Station. Police subsequently registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
Moitra challenged the FIR before the Calcutta High Court in July. Justice Bhattacharyya's bench at that point granted her interim protection until 5 October. Thursday's order is a continuation of that relief, pushing the shield further to 29 January 2027.
The Egg-Attack Security Order
In a separate but related development heard on the same day, the court ordered the continuation of security arrangements for Moitra following an alleged egg attack on her during a visit to her parliamentary constituency. That protection has been extended until 30 November, with two police personnel continuing to escort the MP during constituency visits, as stipulated under an earlier order.
Notably, the cases connected to the egg attack are currently pending before the Division Bench headed by Calcutta Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge. In light of this, Justice Bhattacharyya recused himself from further hearing those matters on Thursday.
What Happens Next
With the investigation continuing under judicial oversight and the next hearing set for 13 January, the case is likely to remain in the spotlight through the winter session of the court. Moitra, a prominent opposition voice in Parliament, has faced sustained legal and political pressure over the past year, and Thursday's ruling keeps the question of her eventual appearance before investigators firmly on the agenda.
Point of View
Keeping Moitra legally shielded through what promises to be a politically charged winter is strategically valuable. For the BJP complainant, the continuing investigation is the only live thread — but a thread that now runs at least another four months before the court takes stock again.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court extend Mahua Moitra's protection from arrest?
The Calcutta High Court extended Mahua Moitra's interim protection from arrest until 29 January 2027 to allow the legal challenge to the FIR against her to continue. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya's bench granted the extension while directing that the investigation proceed under the law.
What is the religious sentiments case against Mahua Moitra?
Moitra is accused of making offensive remarks during a Facebook live broadcast on 15 June that allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. A BJP leader in Nadia district filed a complaint at Hogalberia Police Station, leading to an FIR and a subsequent police investigation.
Who filed the complaint against Mahua Moitra?
Hirak Bhattacharya, general secretary of BJP's Karimpur Mandal-4 block in Nadia district, filed a written complaint with Hogalberia Police Station the day after the alleged broadcast. Based on that complaint, police registered an FIR.
What is the separate egg-attack security order?
In a related development, the Calcutta High Court also extended security arrangements for Moitra — stemming from an alleged egg attack during a constituency visit — until 30 November. Two police personnel are to continue escorting her during visits to her parliamentary constituency.
When is the next hearing in Mahua Moitra's case?
The next hearing has been scheduled for 13 January 2027. Justice Bhattacharyya recused himself from the egg-attack matter, which is pending before the Division Bench headed by Calcutta Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge.
