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Court Bars Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra from Posting Defamatory Content Against West Bengal Chief Secretary
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Court Order Bars MP from Defamatory Posts
A civil court in Alipore, South 24 Parganas, issued an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra from publishing, reposting, sharing or repeating any statements deemed defamatory toward West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal. The order specifically targets two X posts dated October 3, 2026 and October 6, 2026, directing Moitra to delete them within 24 hours of receipt. The injunction remains in force until January 5, 2027, when the court will hear the application for a temporary injunction, service return and Moitra’s written objections.
Background: SIR and Political Context
Manoj Agarwal served as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, a process that later faced criticism for allegedly disenfranchising large numbers of voters. After the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the state government in May 2026, Agarwal was appointed Chief Secretary.
Official Statements & Responses
- Manoj Agarwal sent a legal notice on October 9, 2026 demanding deletion of the posts, an unconditional apology, INR10 crore in damages for alleged defamation, and INR50,000 for legal expenses.
- The court’s October 14, 2026 order reiterated the deletion requirement and the broader restraint on defamatory statements, noting that Agarwal, as former CEO, had no authority to delete names unilaterally.
Verbatim Quote
“Manoj Agarwal Ex CEO WB is a Vote Chor. It’s not defamation when truth is spoken. Manoj like his maalik Gyanu is a Vote Chor. He is singularly responsible for illegally disenfranchising lakhs of valid Bengali voters.” — Mahua Moitra
What’s Next
The injunction’s validity extends to January 5, 2027, when the Alipore court is scheduled to consider Moitra’s objections and the application for a temporary injunction. The outcome will determine whether the restraint on her social-media commentary remains in effect.