Mahua Moitra moves Calcutta HC over egg attack, alleges Nadia police inaction
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra on Monday, 21 September 2026, approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging that Nadia district police had failed to arrest those responsible for an egg attack on her in Tehatta, West Bengal. The court admitted her petition but declined to grant an expedited hearing, directing that the matter be taken up in accordance with the scheduled cause list.
What Happened in Tehatta
Moitra, who represents the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency, had travelled to Tehatta to attend a party meeting. The alleged egg attack reportedly occurred as she was leaving the venue. She subsequently shared videos of the incident on social media, alleging that BJP office-bearers had surrounded the meeting venue and targeted her convoy as it departed.
The attack is said to have occurred last week, with Moitra accusing BJP workers of being behind it. Nadia district police, however, had reportedly made no arrests in connection with the incident — the primary grievance she placed before the High Court.
Court's Response
A single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya admitted Moitra's petition but declined her plea for an urgent, expedited hearing. The court instead directed that the case be listed and heard as per the regular cause list, effectively placing it in the standard queue without special priority.
Moitra Invokes Supreme Court Remark
In her remarks following the court appearance, Moitra referenced a recent observation by Supreme Court judge Justice Dipankar Datta, who had noted that politicians should not be overly concerned about egg attacks given that freedom fighters once faced bullets. Moitra said she had confronted the situation in that same spirit.
'BJP office bearers (NOT public) surrounded my meeting and pelted eggs as I left. Thank you, MiLord, for upholding our Constitutional protections,' the Krishnanagar MP said, characterising herself simultaneously as an MP and a freedom fighter.
BJP Denies Involvement, Points to TMC Factionalism
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Tehatta, Subrata Kobiraj, flatly denied any party involvement in the incident. Kobiraj instead attributed the attack to internal divisions within Trinamool Congress in Nadia district.
'This was the result of factional conflict within Trinamool Congress. Here, one group is backing Moitra, while another is against her. Trinamool Congress in Nadia is now divided into two groups, and an anti-Moitra group attacked her. BJP had nothing to do with it,' Kobiraj said.
What Happens Next
The Calcutta High Court is expected to take up Moitra's petition in due course as part of its regular schedule. The case will test whether the court compels Nadia police to act on her complaint. This incident adds to a pattern of political confrontations in West Bengal, where clashes between TMC and BJP workers have repeatedly drawn judicial scrutiny.