A Kolkata court has restrained Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra from publishing or repeating defamatory statements against West Bengal chief secretary Manoj Agarwal, following a complaint over her social media posts concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the conduct of the state Assembly elections.
The Civil Judge (Senior Division), First Court, Alipore, passed the ex-parte interim order on Wednesday. The court directed Moitra to remove the posts concerning Agarwal, the SIR exercise and this year’s West Bengal Assembly elections within 24 hours of receiving the order, including receipt by email.
The order followed an application by Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer, seeking an interim injunction against Moitra from publishing, posting or sharing any defamatory statement or comment against him. The court also directed that notice be issued to the Krishnanagar MP, asking her to show cause why the interim order should not continue until the disposal of Agarwal’s application.
The court’s direction relates to two posts that Moitra allegedly published on X on October 3 and 6. Agarwal complained that the posts contained unsubstantiated claims about his role in the SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The court has restrained Moitra from publishing, posting or repeating any defamatory statement against Agarwal, including statements connected with those posts.
The order also clarified that it would not restrain fair criticism of the SIR exercise or of any official decision. This distinction leaves open criticism of the electoral-roll revision and administrative decisions, while placing restrictions on statements that the court considers defamatory against the chief secretary.
Agarwal had served as West Bengal’s chief electoral officer from April 3, 2025, to May 11, 2026, before being appointed chief secretary after the BJP came to power in May, according to the report. The court noted that, while serving as chief electoral officer, he worked under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission of India.
In his complaint, Agarwal stated that the chief electoral officer did not have the power to delete or include any name on his own. The allegation is central to the dispute over Moitra’s posts and their references to the SIR process.
Moitra said on Thursday that she would file a vacating application to reinforce her rights. The court has permitted her to submit a written objection along with the material she relies upon and has allowed her to apply under the relevant rules for the discharge, variation or setting aside of the interim order.
The restraint will remain in force until January 5, 2027, when the matter is scheduled for another hearing. The next proceedings will determine whether the interim direction continues while Agarwal’s application is considered.
